Kochav Ya'acov student wins 2009 International Bible quiz

Sapir Malka beat 46 other contestants from around the world who gathered at the Jerusalem Theatre for the event.

By ABE SELIG
saar bible kid (photo credit: Muki Schwartz)
saar bible kid
(photo credit: Muki Schwartz)
Sapir Malka of Kochav Ya'akov, in the Binyamin region, was crowned winner of the 2009 International Bible Quiz on Wednesday afternoon after beating 46 other contestants from around the world who had gathered at the Jerusalem Theater for the event. Malka is a pupil at the Yashlatz (Yeshivat Yerushalayim L'Tzeirim) High School, which serves the community of the nearby Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva. The library of the yeshiva was the scene of a terrorist attack in March 2008 that left eight young men dead - five of whom were pupils at Yashlatz. The runner-up, Uri Luvish, is a resident of Beit Yatir, in the southern Hebron Hills. He is a pupil at the nearby Sussya Yeshiva High School. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was on hand as contestants from around the world competed for top honors. Last week, the contestants met with President Shimon Peres as part of a month-long study program for the quiz, which included tours around the country. In addition to four contestants from Israel, the 47 participants included youth from Austria, Australia, Britain, the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Panama, Chile, France, Columbia, Costa Rica, Canada, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.