The 49th International Bible Contest (Chidon HaTanach), one of Independence Day 's major traditions, has come to a close in Jerusalem on Thursday. The theme of this year's contest was social justice.

Some 53 teens from 22 countries have reached the final stages of the competition, 16 of which made it to the final.

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Elhanan Bloch, 17, from Netivot, a student at the Amit Yeshiva High School in Yeruham, was declared the winner of the competition. Bloch, who held a steady lead throughout the contest, was also crowned as the winner of the religious Israeli schools contest.

Bloch was awarded his prize by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he also received a scholarship for undergraduate studies at Bar Ilan University.

The runner-up in the international contest was Akiva Abramovitz from Brooklyn New York, who surprised both judges and participants by managing to remain ahead of most of the Israeli contestants.





Avshalom Kor hosting the Contest (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

The contest was held at the Jerusalem Theater in the presence of in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar. As usual, Avshalom Kor emceed the event.

Netanyahu, who will ask the prime minister's question, arrived at the theater after taking part in a ceremony at the President's Residence where Shimon Peres gave out awards for excellence to 120 troops. Netanyahu's own son came in third place in the bible contest two years ago.





PM Netanyahu with wife, Sarah and Minister Sa'ar at the contest (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

The National Bible Contest winners – Avshalom Adler and Elhanan Bloch – are both students at the same school, the Yeshiva High School of Yeruham. The two are representing Israel in the competition alongside other contestants from Israel, Turkey, South Africa, France, Costa Rica, Panama and more.

The winner of the international competition receives a full scholarship for undergraduate studies at Bar Ilan University. The annual contest is organized by the IDF Chief Education Officer, the IDF Rabbinate, the Defense Ministry, Education Ministry, the Jewish Agency and the JNF (KKL).