International Jewish Knowledge Championship Emphasizes Connection to the Holy Land
The JewQ International Championship event transformed Stamford into a vibrant hub of Jewish learning and camaraderie this weekend as finalists, their families, and friends from 25 countries gathered for the spelling bee-style finale event. This year, the annual event, taking place against the backdrop of the Oct 7th attacks in Israel and the ensuing war, focused on the Jewish traditions connected to the Holy Land.
Taking place at the close of the CKids Shabbaton, the competition saw Jewish participants from public schools in 250 communities and 25 countries worldwide, including Australia, France, Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador, where participants demonstrated their mastery of a vast array of topics related to Jewish tradition and culture. The event was marked by a unique focus on the Holy Land, featuring guest questions from notable figures such as IDF Paratrooper unit Commander Nerya Meir, Chani Klein, Chabad Shlucha in Eilat, and Israeli Farmer Gershon Zinner, who asked questions pertaining to their fields of work in Israel.
An educational video segment showcased the historical and religious significance of the holy land, where the kids competed in a game show event on topics such as the Jewish fast days commemorating the destruction of the Temple and the traditional seven species blessed upon the land.
The event, led in song by Jewish Superstar Joey Newcomb, also featured a moment of prayer where participants undertook additional good deeds in solidarity for peace and safety in the holy land, echoing the teachings of the Rebbe on the transformative power of youthful acts of kindness to have a positive impact, especially for Israel.
“In today’s environment, where Jewish children face undue challenges, it’s critical to empower our youth with the confidence that comes from deep-rooted knowledge and understanding of their heritage, said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad Headquarters, “Everyone in the packed audience watching these impressive children had a feeling of strong positivity and hopefulness for a bright Jewish future.”
The competition itself was a spirited and creative affair produced by Dovid Weinbaum of DW Productions, with “Team Mitzvot” and “Team Torah” vying closely throughout, competing in challenges that rested their Jewish knowledge mastery. It was Team Torah that ultimately triumphed in the gameshow-style competition. The international champions were celebrated on stage, each receiving a special plaque in recognition of their achievements.
The awards ceremony, led by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302, Rabbi Mendel Raskin, Director of JewQ, and Rabbi Zalmy Lowenthal, Director of CKids International, crowned the Ultimate JewQ Champions across various grade levels. Among them were Daniel Marquez from Chabad of Mississauga-Oakville, Canada; Naomi Cohen from Chabad of Great Neck, NY; Yael Jontof-Hutter from Chabad of Tri-Valley, CA; Isabella Gupta from Chabad of Newbury Park, CA; and Stella Tolin from Chabad of Potomac, MA.
With over fifty thousand watching online and thousands of fans, family, and friends in the stands, the energy was palpable. Hundreds of remote watch parties in the hometowns of finalists brought communities together, cheering on their young representatives.
Catered towards children in public schools without formal Jewish education and participants in Chabad Hebrew School programming worldwide, JewQ, a project of CKids at Merkos 302, aims to address the growing issue of antisemitism by fostering pride in Jewish identity through knowledge. This year, 4,000 children from 250 communities across 25 countries engaged in the competition, intensively studying Jewish tradition and culture for four months.
Photo Credit: Sholem Srugo/Yossi Jerufi – Merkos 302
