Israeli teen becomes first girl to win World Bible Quiz in more than a decade

Ruth Cohen, the 2020 winner of the World Bible Quiz held annually in Israel (and this year remotely). Photo is a screenshot of the Israeli state TV broadcast.

JERUSALEM — In the annual World Bible Quiz for Jewish Youth, a great fanfare in Jerusalem since 1961, 16-year-old Ruth Cohen became the first female winner in more than a decade. The event also sparked controversy when the master of ceremonies Avshalam Kor repeatedly made snide remarks about the Jewish students who lived outside Israel.

Cohen, an 11th grader from a religious girls’ school outside of Tel Aviv and one of the four Israeli competitors present on location, beat 72 teenagers from 41 countries. The middle and high school contestants competed remotely from their home countries across five continents in 17 languages. The Jewish Agency, the largest Jewish non-profit in the world, hosts the event.

For the first time, there was no live audience for the highly popular event, timed to follow Israel’s Independence Day April 28 and normally broadcast live on state television.

“In Grade 9, I decided to start studying with all my might,” Cohen told Army Radio. “I came with a focused goal of winning and that was it, but as I studied the Bible I realized it was so much more and I really became addicted.”

Every year thousands of Jewish 14 to 18-year-olds study for the Bible quiz, many of them spending months preparing for the event. Normally, dozens then come to Israel for two weeks to participate in a Bible Camp but not this year.

In second place was yeshiva student 17-year-old Moshe Glidai from Kfar Etzion, Israel. Haim Natan Shildes from the United States came in third, and Miriam Sharam from Mexico finished in fourth place.

Israel’s Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz joined Knesset Speaker Benny Gantz and Jewish Agency for Israel chairman Isaac Herzog in conducting the celebration of Torah learning.

Citing Proverbs 31:29, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tweeted: “Congratulations to the winner of the World Bible Quiz for Youth, Ruth Cohen from Gedera. Many daughters have done valiantly, but you excel them all. Well done to all competitors from Israel and around the world, on your knowledge and learning!”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sentiment.

“The Book of Books is the source of our eternal values, which sustains us as a people: love of one's fellow man, love of the land, the ingathering of the exiles, heroism, righteousness and morality,” Netanyahu said after the winner was announced.

He quoted a verse from Jeremiah (33:6: “Behold, I will bring healing”) to comfort Israelis during the coronavirus lockdown, saying they will overcome the pandemic.

“This is what the generation of those who built this country who fought fever and malaria and marshes and enemies did,” he said.

As always, the contestants were peppered with questions about the Hebrew scriptures. They ranged from details about the letters sent by King Hezekiah to the Jewish people telling them to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem, to the plague of locusts recorded in the Book of Joel.

Batsheva Schwab of London, U.K. was quizzed about the war between Israel and Aram, while Kayla Sifris from Cape Town, South Africa was asked why King David fled Jerusalem when faced with the rebellion led by his son Absalom.

Speaking to the contestants, Peretz noted the unusual circumstances of the competition this year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of mutual responsibility among the Jewish people to overcome the challenge it presents.

“Because of this wonderful mutual responsibility which exists in the different parts of society, we see the care and the amazing devotion, assistance and volunteerism everywhere,” the minister said. “Your participation in the quiz from all corners of the earth gives expression to the deep connection of the Jewish people wherever they are.”

Controversy over Jews living outside Israel

To much criticism, master of ceremonies Avshalam Kor repeatedly made derogatory comments about Jews living outside of Israel. Speaking about one of the international contestants who had a somber expression on his face, he said: “What does he have to smile about? He lives in exile [abroad].”

Of a delay in the video connection with another contestant abroad, Kor said, “Everything goes slower in the exile, not like here.”

Shira Ruderman, the CEO of the Ruderman Family Foundation, and Jay Ruderman, president of the foundation, which has offices in Boston, New York and Jerusalem, thanked the education minister for holding the World Bible Quiz during the coronavirus outbreak, but was outraged that Kor used the stage to "speak disparagingly to the youth who represent various communities from around the world."

The Rudermans called on Peretz to denounce the comments made by Kor and make it clear that the Ministry of Education has strengthened its ties with Diaspora Jews.

The foundation also noted that the State of Israel traditionally refers to Jewish communities abroad as “Yahadut HaTefutzot” (Diaspora Jewry) rather than as “Yahadut HaGolah” (Exile Jewry), as Kor referred to them.

Kor “remarked not just once or twice about the participants and the places they're from in a patronizing and disrespectful manner that did not suit his position,” said the Rudermans.

“The statements hurt not just the participants and their families, but millions of Jews who themselves marked the festivities of Israel’s 72nd Independence Day, with a great love for the land, State and people," said the foundation. "There is no doubt that Dr. Avshalom Kor gave and gives a lot to Israel and the Jewish people in many fields, but that does not justify his hurtful behavior.”

Speaking during the event, Herzog said that “loving one's fellow as oneself,” was a critical value during today’s trying times, and said that the International Bible competition shows “how deep the love of fellow Jews is in the State of Israel and among Jewish communities around the world.”

Gil Zohar was born in Toronto, Canada and moved to Jerusalem, Israel in 1982. He is a journalist writing for The Jerusalem Post, Segula magazine, and other publications, though currently he is on leave from The Jerusalem Post as the newspaper struggles to survive during the coronavirus pandemic. He’s also a professional tour guide who likes to weave together the Holy Land’s multiple narratives.