Liveblogging the Chidon HaTanakh

Tonight at 6 PM starts the Chidon HaTanakh -- National Bible Contest for adults!

I'll be live blogging over the next hour and a half.


Third Prize 10,000 NIS goes to Gershon Avraham - computer engineer, 33 from Hafia

Second Prize 20,000 NIS goes Shalvim student = Yonah Rosenberg.

IDF Private Refael Meyhuchas from the computer and networking division in the IDF - FIRST PRIZE - 30,000 NIS -- he got every single question right!

HAPPY CHANUKA!

8:14 Last question...Refael...WINS!!!

This guy is freaking amazing!!!

8:13 IDF soldier Refael Meyuchas leading the round...he's one a head, Yonah got one wrong...

Head to Head now between Refael Meyuchas vs Yonah Rosenberg for the top contender
Computers going to most of the top contenders (unsure who gets what)

Ranking as follows:

Refael Meyuchas
Yonah Rosenberg
Gershon Avraham
Tzviya Langenthal

8:04 PM Shlomo finished his performance by blowing the shofar...was really amazing.

Answers to questions Prime Minister's questions:

Tzniut: Shaul Hamelch
Anava/Humility: David HaMelach
Nikion Kapayim: Shmuel the prophet
Leader with She'ar Ruach: Prophet Yihsaya
Leader with Vison: Sefer Mishlei
Shophet et Haam: Eliyahu
Going to wars: Yehoshua
Dugma Ishit: Gidon
Servant of G-d: Nechmia

7:57 PM Top 4 contenders complete their answers (they were given 4 minutes). Shlomo Gronich now performing while the answers are tabluated...

Shlomo performing the following:



taking a break for 2 minutes....

7:53 4 top contenders -- all given a 20 part fill in question...4 minutes to answer!

Netanyahu speaking now...traits of leaders. Give examples from Tanach for each...

(missing some)

Tznuit
Modesty
Purety of actions (hands)
Vision
Personal example
accepting responsibility
Leader and nation creating an oath with G-d.


7:46 PM Next pair:

Yonah Rosenberg vs Levi Sudri
1. both correct!
2. both correct!
3. Winner: YONAH ROSENBERG!

Last pair:

Tzvia Langenthal vs Dor El Chai Ben Ezra

Oooh - Dor El's answer not registered in the computer, but he said the right answer...(but Tzviya got the answer right).

Judges Decide: no points to Dor El Chai

both correct!

Last question for this pair...
both correct!

Tzviya goes to the next round (woohoo! :)


4 pairs have been chosen (faceoff via the computer)

Itay Levy vs. Gershon Avraham

Both correct (5 points for both)
Both correct (5 points for both)
Both correct (5 points for both)

Bonus question: Whoever answers first wins the round.
Both answered correctly...Avraham first and goes to the head table.

Roni Gal-oz vs. Refael Meyhuchas
1. both answer correctly!
2. both answer correctly!
3. both answer correctly!

Roni answered first by Rafael was right!
Refael goes to the head table.


7:34 PM Shlomo Gronech is now performing, while the judges decide on the top 8 who w
ill go to the next level.

This is the same song Shlomo is performing now:



7:29 Itai Levy: 12 points (total 61)

Tom Shochat 12 points (total 58)

7:25 Refael Meyuchas (soldier in the IDF) 12 points (total 62)

Yonah Rosenberg (studying in Shaalvim) 12 points (total 62)

7:20 Gershon Avraham: 12 points
Netanel : 12 points. Trying to put kids to bed. Not being successful...

7:15 PM 6th contender Tzviya Langernhal (my friend :)
12 points!!!! (61 points in total)

Bat El Cohen: 12 points

7:09 PM Third Personality Discussed: Menachem Begin

5th contender: Levi Sudri 12 points! (total 61 points)

6th contender: Amos Bitan (12 points)

7:07 PM Third Contender: Dor El Chai Ben Ezra (soldier from the Israel Naval Forces)
12 points!

4rth: Binyamin Rosensweig: 12 points


7:01 PM The theme of the National Tanakh/Bible Competition this year, in honor of Chanuka, is leadership and bravery.

The first person being featured is Ben Gurion.

Two questions are being asked to each contendor...

Roni Gal Oz; 12 points.
Danny Ohayon: 12 points.

The questions were rather easy...will try to write some of the questions and answers if I can get some of the kids to sleep...

Second person featured: Rav Kook

6:52 PM Netanyahu quotes 2 verses: You should love your neighbor as yourself, and you should love the "ger" (stranger / convert). Good luck to all the participants and all of Israel - may we all continue to study the Tanakh, and conduct ourselves in peace with each other.

6:47 PM Personally, I'm (Jameel) routing for me friend Tzviya, winner of the Jerusalem area adult competition, currently one of the contenders.

Netanyahu describes the early Bible Championships he heard as child...on the radio...and the pride that everyone was involved in the competition - secular and religious Jews together.

6:45 PM Netanyahu: Eretz Yisrael, Am Yisrael and the Tanakh are all mentioned in Israel's declaration of independance. That is what we are celebrating this evening.

6:41 PM Netanyahu is speaking now.

The audience is mostly police, firefighters and members of MDA (Magen David Adom)

Netanyahu mentions the dedication and selfless dedication of Israel's heroes. Mentioning the 16 year old who perished while volunteering to help put out the fire in the Carmel mountains.

Sending condolences to the families of the victims of the fire.

We will be soon starting an airborne fire brigade.

6:40 PM Education Minister Gidon Saar just gave the introduction...




Visiting Israel?
Learn to Shoot at Caliber-3 with top Israeli Anti-Terror Experts!

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Only in Israel: Bedouin Teacher Enters National Bible Contest

Israel: What a country.

After a 29 year hiatus, Israel is rebooting the National Bible Contest, for adults. The Education Ministry has radio ads running on the major stations;

"Lots were drawn, and he was chosen...if you think you know the answer, why not participate in the National Bible Contest for Adults"

The response is overwhelming: Over 1,650 people have registered so far!

Contestants will be divided into seven districts around Israel, including one designated for IDF soldiers. A written test will be held in mid-July to determine 14 winners from each district who will move on to the regional competition. At the second stage, each district will hold a local race for two spots. A total of 14 contestants will participate in the national contest to be held during the holiday of Hanukkah. The winner and his two runner-ups will move on to the international contest which will be held in 2011. (YNET)

And now, Shadi Abu Arar, a Bedouin Hebrew literature teacher has registered to participate in the National Bible Contest for adults as well.

YNET reports on this story:

Abu Arar has been preparing for the competition since the announcement was made and has enlisted the held of a Jewish Bible teacher from Dimona. "I have been drawn to the Bible since I was a kid," he explained. "I find many common points between the Bible and the Quran. As far as I'm concerned the study of the Bible doesn't replace or contradicts the Quran. The Ten Commandments, for instance, also appear in the Quran.

"As someone who endorses co-existence between Jews and Arabs I think that everyone should get to know the other's culture and holy writings, and this is what I am doing."

Abu Arar noted that he also incorporates Bible studies in his Hebrew literature classes for Arab children. "The final exam includes questions on such books as Proverbs, Ruth, Pirkei Avot ans Genesis."

However, it quickly turned out not everyone shared his enthusiasm with the contest. Various elements, some from the Bedouin education system, claimed he was denying the Quran. "Many people were mad at me," he said. "But I'm doing it out of firm belief. I tried to explain and told them that historically the Bible is the first book, which cannot be denied, but it didn't help."

His students, too, were baffled by his decision but became avid supporters after he explained his stance. "I told my students: 'Do you think your teacher would do something that is wrong?' and now they're all rooting for me to make it to finals," the proud teacher said.

I would be willing to wager that Abu Arar knows Tanach/Bible better than most Israelis...and Yeshiva students.

In Israel this summer?

Free Phone Rental

Call the US for the price of a Local call!

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Israel's National Bible Championship in Jeopardy

In addition to blue & white, fireworks displays, barbques, and general day off, Israel's Independence Day is also marked by the annual "National Bible Contest" (or in Hebrew, Chidon HaTanakh, חידון התנ"ך). These champions are truly amazing, and I've met many of them over the years from Israel and the Diaspora; one was my Israeli roommate in Yeshiva in Israel, and when I asked him off the cuff (after looking up the answer in advance) how many times it says "bakbuk בקבוק [bottle]" in the Tanakh, he was able to nonchalantly throw out the correct answer (3), as well as cite chapter and verse of each instance. It's no wonder he's now one of the judges for the annual contest.

However, this year's contest has hit a snag. NRG reports today (in Hebrew) that participation of one of the contestants from Israel...is problematic! The contest is defined on the National Bible website as follows:

The International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth is an impressive annual event, to which a number of young high school students come to Israel and meet with a similar number of Israeli youth, for a number of weeks enrich themselves with many experiences and deepen their connection to Israel, the traditions and the Bible. The process begins with in their own countries tests. The winners of those national contests, arriving in Israel will take part in the contest for overseas youth...and the successful ones will participate in the final contest on the Israeli Day of Independence in Jerusalem.

NRG reports that the counter-missionary group Yad L'Achim is endorsing a ban on this year's contest -- not because one of the contestants isn't Jewish (which is clearly stated in the Mission Statement above), but because the contestant, 11th grade Israeli teenager Bat-El Levy from Jerusalem...is a follower of the "Jewish Messianic" sect of Christianity.

Yad L'Achim is currently in touch with Israel's Ministry of Education and leading rabbis around Israel -- calling for Bat-El to be disqualified from participating...or for all religious participants to boycott the contest.

**Israel's Ministry of Justice has determined that according to Israeli law, Bat-El is in fact Jewish (although she and her family are part of the Jewish Messianic sect), and she can therefore participate. I guess they are of the opinion that once a Jew, always a Jew, despite conversion or acceptance of another faith.

Some say, let her participate and lose -- which will show that Jews in fact, do excel in Bible studies. Other are worried what might happen if she wins.

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this...

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד