Page 98 - issue
P. 98
I feel like the competition
was just a part of the
experience – that the
experience was our reward
for studying Tanach, and
that the competition on Yom
Ha’atzmaut – as amazing as
GOING it was – was just a part of the
CYHEIRDUONStHoTtAAheNLAACYHIIMN
Wby Caleb Gitlitz whole experience of being in
Hebrew High School, and English for
Beth Tfiloh Class of 2021 both Middle School and High School, the Holy Land and
hat defines the Jewish na- the division for which I won. I was over-
tion? When people think whelmed! My family, classmates, school all the great friendships
about our nation, one of and synagogue, both of which are Beth
the first things that comes Tfiloh, were super happy and excited that we made there.
to mind is the Tanach (Bi- for me! I was going to Israel to compete
On the Tuesday before Yom
ble). The Tanach is not there and represent my school, my com- Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day,
we all took an exam with 60 questions
only a history book; rather, munity, and my country! covering 410 chapters of Tanach. Mirac-
ulously, I made it into the top 16, which
it contains the words that Hashem spoke That brought me to the International meant I would compete on live television
in Israel on Yom Ha’atzmaut! When I
through Moshe, the Prophets, and the level, which took place in Israel right af- went on stage, I was so excited and hap-
py that I made it this far. When I received
great leaders of Israel. It is what binds us ter Pesach this year, where I met with 73 my question (in written form) during the
first round, the answer came to me im-
together as a people. It is also our deed other kids living in 39 different countries mediately. When the judges asked me the
question, I answered readily. I was over-
and claim to the Land of Israel. For these (including the United States of America), joyed when they said: “Correct answer.
Ten points.” When I heard that, I knew
reasons, among others, I really enjoy aged 13 to 18 years old. I became close I would be back up for the next round!
When I was up on stage for the second
studying the Tanach. friends with many of them. round, the MC called us up next to him
to show us a screen with six questions,
I first wanted to participate in the For the past year, I have been study- both in Hebrew and our native language
(for me, English), which he would ask
Chidon HaTanach, the International ing approximately 10 to 11 chapters of and I would answer. In the end, because
of the help of Hashem, I scored in sixth
Bible Contest, when I heard about it in Tanach a day, and every Wednesday I place!!! It was really a miracle!
fifth grade. However, the contest is only would meet with an excellent rabbi from All in all, however, I feel like the com-
petition was just a part of the experience
for sixth to eleventh graders, so I waited Teaneck, New Jersey, named Rabbi Fraz- – that the experience was our reward for
studying Tanach, and that the competi-
an entire year until I could finally do it. er. He used to coordinate the Chidon tion on Yom Ha’atzmaut – as amazing
as it was – was just a part of the whole
When I competed in my school in sixth HaTanach in America, and he helped experience of being in the Holy Land
grade, I advanced to the National level, me study by discussing the chapters of
which was held in New York that May, Tanach that I had learned the previous
during which I surprisingly took second week and having me make lists of key
place! When I competed again the next quotes and phrases. At one point, he
year, with the help of Hashem, I man- even told me to “think like the coordina-
aged to place first in the country for my tor” and write my own questions. If not
division! There are three divisions in the for him, I would never have been able to
United States: Hebrew Middle School, do nearly as well as I did in Israel.
90 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
was just a part of the
experience – that the
experience was our reward
for studying Tanach, and
that the competition on Yom
Ha’atzmaut – as amazing as
GOING it was – was just a part of the
CYHEIRDUONStHoTtAAheNLAACYHIIMN
Wby Caleb Gitlitz whole experience of being in
Hebrew High School, and English for
Beth Tfiloh Class of 2021 both Middle School and High School, the Holy Land and
hat defines the Jewish na- the division for which I won. I was over-
tion? When people think whelmed! My family, classmates, school all the great friendships
about our nation, one of and synagogue, both of which are Beth
the first things that comes Tfiloh, were super happy and excited that we made there.
to mind is the Tanach (Bi- for me! I was going to Israel to compete
On the Tuesday before Yom
ble). The Tanach is not there and represent my school, my com- Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day,
we all took an exam with 60 questions
only a history book; rather, munity, and my country! covering 410 chapters of Tanach. Mirac-
ulously, I made it into the top 16, which
it contains the words that Hashem spoke That brought me to the International meant I would compete on live television
in Israel on Yom Ha’atzmaut! When I
through Moshe, the Prophets, and the level, which took place in Israel right af- went on stage, I was so excited and hap-
py that I made it this far. When I received
great leaders of Israel. It is what binds us ter Pesach this year, where I met with 73 my question (in written form) during the
first round, the answer came to me im-
together as a people. It is also our deed other kids living in 39 different countries mediately. When the judges asked me the
question, I answered readily. I was over-
and claim to the Land of Israel. For these (including the United States of America), joyed when they said: “Correct answer.
Ten points.” When I heard that, I knew
reasons, among others, I really enjoy aged 13 to 18 years old. I became close I would be back up for the next round!
When I was up on stage for the second
studying the Tanach. friends with many of them. round, the MC called us up next to him
to show us a screen with six questions,
I first wanted to participate in the For the past year, I have been study- both in Hebrew and our native language
(for me, English), which he would ask
Chidon HaTanach, the International ing approximately 10 to 11 chapters of and I would answer. In the end, because
of the help of Hashem, I scored in sixth
Bible Contest, when I heard about it in Tanach a day, and every Wednesday I place!!! It was really a miracle!
fifth grade. However, the contest is only would meet with an excellent rabbi from All in all, however, I feel like the com-
petition was just a part of the experience
for sixth to eleventh graders, so I waited Teaneck, New Jersey, named Rabbi Fraz- – that the experience was our reward for
studying Tanach, and that the competi-
an entire year until I could finally do it. er. He used to coordinate the Chidon tion on Yom Ha’atzmaut – as amazing
as it was – was just a part of the whole
When I competed in my school in sixth HaTanach in America, and he helped experience of being in the Holy Land
grade, I advanced to the National level, me study by discussing the chapters of
which was held in New York that May, Tanach that I had learned the previous
during which I surprisingly took second week and having me make lists of key
place! When I competed again the next quotes and phrases. At one point, he
year, with the help of Hashem, I man- even told me to “think like the coordina-
aged to place first in the country for my tor” and write my own questions. If not
division! There are three divisions in the for him, I would never have been able to
United States: Hebrew Middle School, do nearly as well as I did in Israel.
90 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
