Fifteen-year-old Tzurit Bernson of Naharia won the International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth on Thursday, narrowly beating out Elad Finish of Be’er Sheva, who came in second.  As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handed Bernson her prize, the teen slipped him a petition calling for the release of Jonathon Pollard.

In third place was Dov Mordechai Nadel of the United States.  Rachel Asas of Mexico came in fourth.

The contest aroused controversy this year due to the participation of 17-year-old Bat-El Levy, who was raised in the Christian faith by her Jewish-born parents.  Levy joined the competition after winning the Bible quiz for students in secular public schools in the Jerusalem area.  She failed to pass the early rounds of Thursday’s competition.