Competitors from 15 synagogues across Long Island tested their knowledge of Jewish prayers, holidays and heritage at the annual JewQ competition at Chabad Port Washington on Feb. 9.
The competition brought together young Jewish scholars from third to seventh grade, with students competing against each other in two rounds, testing their knowledge of Jewish life, theology, and culture.
Winners from each grade were Zoe Shlivko of Brookville- Grade 3, Allison Berger of Port Washington- Grade 4, Naomi Cohen of Great Neck- Grade 5, Eli Rowshanrad of Lake Success- Grade 6, and Grade 7 co-champions Nathaniel Moirzadeh of Great Neck, and Sammy Dubey of East End.
Rabbi Berel Paltiel of Chabad of Port Washington emcees the JewQ Long Island regional competition each year and was proud to host the island’s top young Jewish scholars this time around.
“I get a thrill from the humor and the entertainment aspect of taking something which is [normally] serious, and lightening it up and adding that extra dose of fun throughout a quite intense competition,” Paltiel said.
The competition comprised of a Kahoot-style quiz, where competitors answered multiple-choice questions on their digital devices, followed by a “list round,” where competitors had to list every bit of knowledge they could think of on a given topic in only 60 seconds.
To prepare for the championship, the Jewish scholars studied classroom religion lessons and the book created by the JewQ organizers, “Living Jewish: A Handbook for Life.” In the months leading up to the competition, students practice the lessons they learned like, like prayers and blessings for third graders, the Jewish lifecycle for sixth graders, or Jewish heroes for seventh graders.
Competitors then tested their knowledge in three exams taken at home or school before taking part in the championship. Those who earned at least a 70 percent average on the tests were eligible to compete.
“With so much going on in the world, a strong understanding of one’s heritage is a key way to raise confident, resilient children,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad World Headquarters. “When they truly connect with their roots, they stand on a firmer foundation and feel proud of who they are.”
Chabad of Great Neck had one of the largest showings among participating synagogues, and event organizer Rabbi Zalman Baumgarten was inspired by the competitor’s months of work.
“We are incredibly proud of how hard these children have worked. In today’s day and age, they’re shining examples for their peers, proving that hard work pays off,” Baumgarten said.
JewQ is organized by The Chabad Children’s Network, which also runs Chabad Hebrew Schools catering to Jewish families from different religious backgrounds and levels of observance. The Chabad Children’s Network also hosts other programs for Jewish children, including Shabbaton and Day Camps.
Fourth grader Allison Berger of Chabad of Port Washington earned the highest score among the grade winners and will advance to the JewQ International Torah Championship in New Jersey on March 30. The highest-scoring qualifiers from each Chabad will also qualify for the international competition, where they will compete against other Jewish scholars from 25 countries.
