Emunah Cohen: 'I prepared for three years'
Three years ago on Independence Day, the 17-year-old Kfar Eliyahu Educational Institute student from Bnei-Netzarim, was in a car with her family when they heard the International Bible Contest on the radio.
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"When they announced the winner, Ruth Cohen, my dad jokingly asked, 'When's your turn?'. I replied, 'Very funny'," she recalls. "I didn’t have prior knowledge or a particular fondness for the Bible. The quiz wasn't on my mind, but when I heard that the winner was 16, something ignited in me. I’m competitive and thought, 'If she can do it, why can't I?'.
I returned home, watched the broadcast, and although it seemed intense and challenging, it fueled my interest even more. I googled what it means to compete in the International Bible Contest and saw interviews with previous winners. That very evening, I started studying."
How do you even go about such a thing?
"I started with Genesis, chapter 1. Truly from scratch, reading at the simplest level. I studied a chapter a day. Part of my memorization technique involved singing verses to various melodies. I sang the Book of Obadiah to a popular children's tune."
So you prepared for the contest from 8th to 11th grade?
"I wanted to feel prepared, both in terms of my knowledge and mentally. The quiz covers 437 chapters, and to achieve a high level of proficiency over such a vast material, it requires several years of study. There were times when I studied six hours a day and times when I studied two hours a day. There are periods of higher motivation and periods of lesser motivation. In the months leading up to the contest, I studied from morning to evening and didn't attend school."
How did you feel when your friend Neta scored just one point less than you and was crowned runner-up?
"We've known each other for over a year through regional competitions, and in recent months we prepared together. We shared the dream of both winning and tying for first place. We even joked about both of us getting the last question wrong so we could be together,” she laughs. “When you know you've done your best and leave the rest up to fate, it's easier to accept the outcomes."
"I study new chapters that I haven't learned before. I also review chapters I've previously studied to ensure I don't forget"
Did you feel burnt out after winning?
"Not really. I immediately got caught up in a whirlwind of phone calls, interviews and events surrounding the victory. I haven't yet felt the post-event lull. However, the immense pressure has definitely subsided."
Have you embarked on a new project?
"I've joined the coaching team for the contest, preparing the next generation for competition. We teach them both the content and how to study. I also visit schools and talk about the Bible. I want to make more people love it."
Do you continue to read the Bible?
"Absolutely. The contest doesn't cover the entire Bible, so I study new chapters that I haven't learned before. I also review chapters I've previously studied to ensure I don't forget. There's always depth to explore. Every time I study, which is whenever I have a spare moment, I discover something new."
What do you do when you're not studying?
"I love to dance. From first to eighth grade, I learned modern dance, and now I dance just for fun. I also lead in the youth movement Ariel."
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International Bible Contest winner Emunah Cohen (second from right) flanked by Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: Mizmor Productions)
What’s your favorite book in the Bible?
"Isaiah. The prophecies are beautifully written. They are prophecies of comfort and redemption. Especially in times like these, when the situation in Israel is tough and there are divisions among the people, reading the prophecies that promise us a much better future provides hope and strength.
Isaiah explains to us that redemption doesn't come in a flash—it's a complex process with challenges along the way. Knowing this, I'm not afraid of what happens around me."
Who is your favorite biblical figure?
"King David. He didn't have an easy life, facing many challenges. Two of his sons, Adonijah and Absalom, rebelled against him and tried to harm him. King Saul pursued him. But despite all these hardships, David had a strong faith in God. He believed that everything happening to him was divinely ordained, and that helped him cope. From King David, I learn to live a life of faith."
Netta Lax: ‘I want to delve deeper into the Bible’
The 17-year-old from Ariel recalls, "When I was in eighth grade, they offered those interested the opportunity to compete in the school's Bible contest. The school competition is the first step in the process. It sounded interesting to me. I love studying and competing.
Two other girls and I advanced to the regional competition where I was eliminated, but I decided to continue studying and try again the following year. I really got into it. In grades nine and ten, my knowledge expanded, and this year, in eleventh grade, I made it to the global competition."
How many hours a day did you study?
"I studied one to two hours a day during the first two years. Last year and this year, it became more intensive, amounting to six to seven hours daily. I mostly studied alone, but from time to time, Emunah and I would study together over the phone or on Zoom. Past winners also conducted lessons and offered tips to all the competitors, which was immensely helpful."
You were very close to winning and lost by a point.
"It was disappointing at first, but I quickly realized it was less significant compared to other things happening around me. Reaching the international stage of the competition is an incredible achievement. Many people tell me that they see us both as winners."
How did you feel the day after?
"There was suddenly an emptiness, a feeling of 'now what?' But life quickly got back on course; I had to catch up on what I had missed in my studies and meet up with friends. By the way, just because the competition is behind me doesn't mean I'm leaving the Bible. It's still a part of me, and I want to continue studying, delve deeper, and discover more within it."
What do you do besides studying?
"I'm in a dance program at the seminary, practicing both classical ballet and modern dance for 17 hours a week. We perform elaborate shows, exclusively for female audiences."
What’s your favorite book in the Bible?
"Ezra and Nehemiah. These are two books that are often considered as one. They discuss the return to Zion after the destruction of the First Temple. They depict how the Israelites returned to their land, rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple. It's an emotional period in our people's history that many are unfamiliar with. I enjoyed reading about and revisiting that era."
Who is your favorite biblical figure?
"King Solomon. He had an incredible life's work. During his reign, the Kingdom of Israel flourished. He was also a wise man and his wisdom is portrayed as something magnificent. I would love to meet him and ask him questions."