International Hebrew Bible Quiz: A Special Part of Israel’s Independence Day Celebrations

The International Bible Quiz for Youth opened this morning (Thursday) as part of the 77th Yom HaAtzma’ut, Independence Day, festivities of the State of Israel. Teenagers from across the globe are taking part in the competition, demonstrating their knowledge of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible).

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The Bible Quiz is an annual competition in biblical knowledge, held in Israel, and has become a longstanding tradition since it was first introduced during the celebrations of Israel’s 10th anniversary. One of the primary goals of the Bible Quiz is to encourage Jewish youth to take an interest in, study, and explore the Tanakh as the foundational cultural text of the Jewish people.

The vision is for the quiz to serve as a meaningful tool to promote Tanakh study within the educational system, and it is structured to align with the way Bible is taught in schools. The Bible Quiz spans the entire academic year, with the aim of deepening students’ curiosity, reflection, reading, and retention of the Book of Books—the Tanakh—while strengthening its relevance and increasing students’ motivation to engage with it meaningfully.

The first Bible Quiz for adults was held during the State of Israel’s 10th anniversary celebrations. About three years later, in 1961, the Bible Quiz for Youth was introduced—and has continued ever since as an enduring and celebrated tradition.