Back from Bible Quiz in Israel
Melbourne studentsEdward Lichtig, 15, from Leibler Yavneh College and Sara Krishtul 15 from Beth Rivkah Ladies College have just returned from the World Bible Quiz in Israel.
Sara ranked 17th and Edward ranked 18th in the world and 13th and 14th respectively among the Diaspora contestants.
This year the number of countries entered in the world competition doubled to 35 with 80 contestants.
Edward Lichtig and Sara Krishtul
The International Bible Quiz (chidon tanach) is an opportunity for students from all over the world to compete on their knowledge of 400 pages of the Tanach. The winner receives a scholarship to Machon Lev, the Jerusalem College of Technology. The quiz is run by the Education Department of the Israel Defence Force. The Australian contestants are selected out of the National Bible Quiz, organised by the ZFA. In 2013, leading up to the 2014 world quiz, 25 young, committed Jewish students vied for the opportunity to represent Australia at this prestigious competition, held in Israel over Yom Ha’atzmaut.
Prior to the commencement of the quiz students enjoy a Tanach Camp with other participants from all over the world, they are taken on tours through Israel and meet incredible people from Israel and all over the world. Edward had a very exciting meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel where he shook his hand and agreed that the Tanach will allow him to also be a nation’s leader.
Edward says:- “Apart from brushing up my Hebrew, I got to learn quite a smooth Spanish and French!… I felt like they treated us like royalty and I can’t wait to share my experience with the Australian community and teach the next generations of Bible Champions. That will be my biggest privilege.”
Lichtig still keeps in touch with contestants from all over the world. They organise a weekly time to come together on Skype and discuss psukim. He says:- “…It is an awesome thing when over 80 teenagers from different countries come together and speak about Tanach; it is truly inspirational. This is why the life friendships formed in Israel will be forever. I also know that whatever country I travel to in the future, there will be at least one warm friend waiting to greet me at the airport. Winning and being part of this experience has been phenomenal, meeting dignitaries has been exceptional and the friendships I’ve made with my fellow contestants is enriching and remarkable. This has been the opportunity of a lifetime and most of all I have acquired Jewish History and Bible knowledge that will stand me in good stead for the rest of my life.”
The next state Bible Quiz will be held in September, conducted by the ZCV and ZCNSW in each state, and the national quiz will take place in December, run by the ZFA.
