Shimshon Jacob, a grade school teacher from Beit Shemesh, was named the winner of the International Bible Contest for Adults on Wednesday at the Jerusalem Theater, coinciding with the eighth night of Hanukkah. Jacob triumphed over Shlomo Mondshein, a Jerusalem-based writer and Bible scholar, who had led much of the competition.
The event, normally held biennially during Hanukkah, was postponed last year due to the war and returned this year, three years after the previous contest. This year’s edition, with participants from six countries including Israel, the U.S., Canada, France, Argentina and Peru, was dedicated to the memory of those lost on October 7, 2023, and aimed to inspire hope and faith in the resilience of the Jewish people.
The ten finalists were selected based on their exceptional performance in preliminary quizzes. The questions were crafted by Liron Ben Moshe, a former Bible Contest champion who lost his brother Major Ariel Ben Moshe during the battle of Kibbutz Re’im on October 7.
Hosted by journalist Ofer Hadad, the contest featured a performance by violinist Mordechai Schnewald, who was injured in combat in Gaza. Schnewald performed a medley of war hymns.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
Education Minister Yoav Kisch attended, praising the event’s significance. “The International Bible Contest for Adults is a powerful expression of the eternal connection between the Jewish people and the Book of Books. It connects Jewish communities in Israel and the Diaspora, creating a bridge of identity and heritage,” he said.
Kisch congratulated the participants, adding, “The Bible is not just a legacy of the past but a moral and ethical compass for our shared future.”
The first adult Bible Contest was held in 1958 as part of Israel’s tenth-anniversary celebrations. After a hiatus in the 1970s, the tradition was revived in 2007, alternating annually between national and international competitions.