Secular Teen Wins World Bible Quiz

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By Naomi Zeveloff May 2, 2017

For the first time in 30 years, a secular Jewish teen has won the World Bible Quiz, a test given every year on Israel’s Independence Day to Jews ages 14 to 18 from around the world.

Sagiv Lugassi, who attends a secular science and technology high school in Maalot in Northern Israel, was the winner this year, barely beating Naomi Cohen of Safed, Israeli news site Ynet reported.

The last time a secular person won the World Bible quiz was in the 1980s.

The World Bible Quiz, which tests participants’ knowledge of the Old Testament, is the culminating event of a two-and-a-half week bible camp in which Jewish teens from all over the world travel to Israel to learn about the holy book.

The quiz is broadcast on state television.

Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected] or on Twitter @naomizeveloff

Naomi Zeveloff is the former Middle East correspondent of the Forward, primarily covering Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

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