Sagiv Lugasi, 15, of Maalot in northern Israel is the winner of the 2017 Bible contest, held every year on Independence Day, after he defeated Naomi Cohen of the Tzfat Ulpana by two points in the final round.
Lugasi made history by being the first winner from a non-religious school to win the contest in 30 years.
Maria Shpilowitz, a resident of Grodno, Belarus, reached third place. Shpilowitz, who does not study in a Jewish school, said that she had taught herself in preparation for the quiz.
Shlomo Helfgot of Teaneck, New Jersey, came in fourth place.
This years Bible Contest takes place in the Jerusalem Theater on the topic of "fifty years of unified Jerusalem"
The quiz is chaired by linguist and Tanach scholar Dr. Avshalom Kor and includes the participation of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky.
Contestants include:
Naomi Cohen-Israel
Nadav Sahar-Israel
Shlomo Helfgot-US
Sagiv Lugasi, Israel
Uriel Simpson- US
Maria Shpilowitz- Belarus
Caleb Gitelitz-US
Natan Snobel-Canada
Shaul Yosef- South Africa
Yitzhak Narkis- Panama
Shira Ring-Belgium
Binyamin Shor-Canada
Matan Harel-Israel
Yehuda Shani-Brazil
Dania Ranner-Mexico
Sharon Toussia- Mexico