Bible Quiz in jeopardy
A QUESTION mark is hanging over the future of the Australian Bible Quiz, as the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has put the competition on hold for the next year.
A QUESTION mark is hanging over the future of the Australian Bible Quiz, as the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has put the competition on hold for the next year.
While the two Australians who won last month’s national tournament will be jetting off to Israel in May to compete in the International Bible Quiz, hopeful Tanach students will be unable to participate in state or national competitions later this year as the organisation determines the competition’s future viability.
Interest in the competition has waned over the past several years, with ZFA executive director Ginette Searle stipulating that only five participants across Australia took part in their respective states’ competition last year.
Emphasising that it’s merely a one-year break at the moment, Searle told The AJN, “Over the past few years, we’ve had declining interest from participants. While the opportunity to participate in the world Bible Quiz camp and competition is outstanding, we believe we need to reassess the impact of the program in Australia”.
While Australian representatives thoroughly enjoy their experience in Israel, Searle expressed the organisation’s disappointment with current participant levels.
“The ZFA has sent representatives to the World Bible Quiz for many years and our representatives have generally acquitted themselves well. The Tanach is the foundation source for our Jewish history, our faith and the modern State of Israel and the Bible Quiz celebrates and fosters that.
“Participants who compete in both the national and world quizzes devote incredible time and attention to their studies, learning vast tracts of Tanach. However, due to low levels of interest, we are taking the opportunity to reassess the program and its impact in Australia, determining whether we can increase participation levels.”
Searle explained the objective of the hiatus is to “look at the best way of engaging more participants in a meaningful way in the future”.
This year’s national winner Rivka Hirschowitz from Sydney and runner-up Akiva Kaltmann from Melbourne will be representing Australia in Israel against hundreds of other Jewish students from around the world in May.
ZOE KRON
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