First Zionist Quiz
First Zionist QuizYoni Kempinski

The First Zionist Quiz for Families at Ariel's Heichal Hatarbut on Tuesday brought knowledgeable families from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria together, in an intense competition of Zionist knowledge.

Participant Gideon Ariel of Ma'aleh Hever, located to the south-east of Hevron, came in third place with his family. Arutz Sheva got a chance to speak with Ariel about his experiences in the contest that was organized by the Zionist Council and the World Zionist Organization (WZO).

The quiz was held at the regional level and precedes the national finals. Yigal Brand, Director of the Zionist Council in Israel, told Arutz Sheva that this was the third time the quiz was being held, but the first time as a family competition.

The winning family on Tuesday hailed from Kedumim, located in Samaria north of Ariel.

Hundreds of families competed through an internet quiz to gain the right to appear at the quiz, noted Yaakov Hagoel, Head of WZO's Department for Activities in Israel and Countering anti-Semitism.

Hagoel added that the quiz asked about political figures and groups throughout the history of the modern state of Israel, remarking "Zionism is for everybody, it isn't the right's or the left's, it belongs to all of us."

Ariel Mayor Eli Shaviro was present at the contest. He remarked that one of the questions asked about the origin of his city's name, and revealed that the city was named after Jerusalem, given that Ariel is one of the biblical names of the capital city.

While there was an attempt to try and have Ariel also be called after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the attempt led to discussions in council meetings that were not passed in the Knesset, leaving the city named solely after Jerusalem, remarked Shaviro.