The winner of this year’s Independence Day International Bible Quiz is Shmuel Halpert of the Horev Yeshiva High School in Jerusalem. The student won the nationally televised contest this afternoon after scoring the full 100 points.
The runner-up was Moshe Mali, a student at the Maaleh Adumim yeshiva, while another Horev student, Sha'ul Fish, took third place.
The last question of the quiz is traditionally presented by the prime minister. As Ariel Sharon rose to ask his question, a female demonstrator raised a poster reading, “Jews Don't Expel Jews."
Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that Jewish youth from around the world participated in the contest, as they do each year. The theme this year was, “For me, this is a beloved land.”
Sixty-five Israeli youngsters, aged 14-18, were among the contestants. Forty others were from various Diaspora countries, including Belgium, Uzbekistan, Austria, Ukraine, Brazil, Germany, Panama, Venezuela, Bulgaria, and others.
Segments of the contest were devoted to short films depicting the songs of the late Naomi Shemer, one of Israel’s greatest national songwriters. She is best known for her ballad “Jerusalem of Gold," written just before the outbreak of the Six Day War. The films displayed images of disadvantaged Israelis struggling to overcome their disabilities.
Competition was particularly fierce this year, with three Israeli youth making it into the finals.
Prime Minister Sharon said at the contest that the nation of Israel was commanded to "arise and walk about the land. I call on all the youngsters who have arrived here from around the world to make aliyah" and thus fulfill this commandment.
The runner-up was Moshe Mali, a student at the Maaleh Adumim yeshiva, while another Horev student, Sha'ul Fish, took third place.
The last question of the quiz is traditionally presented by the prime minister. As Ariel Sharon rose to ask his question, a female demonstrator raised a poster reading, “Jews Don't Expel Jews."
Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that Jewish youth from around the world participated in the contest, as they do each year. The theme this year was, “For me, this is a beloved land.”
Sixty-five Israeli youngsters, aged 14-18, were among the contestants. Forty others were from various Diaspora countries, including Belgium, Uzbekistan, Austria, Ukraine, Brazil, Germany, Panama, Venezuela, Bulgaria, and others.
Segments of the contest were devoted to short films depicting the songs of the late Naomi Shemer, one of Israel’s greatest national songwriters. She is best known for her ballad “Jerusalem of Gold," written just before the outbreak of the Six Day War. The films displayed images of disadvantaged Israelis struggling to overcome their disabilities.
Competition was particularly fierce this year, with three Israeli youth making it into the finals.
Prime Minister Sharon said at the contest that the nation of Israel was commanded to "arise and walk about the land. I call on all the youngsters who have arrived here from around the world to make aliyah" and thus fulfill this commandment.