Chidon Ha’Tanach News!

Stop the press! Yes! The Chidon Ha’Tanach will take place this year around the world! Congratulations to three of the American National Champions from last year who have now qualified to be amongst the top 16 competitors in the International competition on Yom Ha’Atzmaut – Yehuda Zinberg, Ezriel Vinar, and Nossi Shields. Ilan Eisenberg our fourth National Champion will hopefully go on to represent America in the Diaspora Competition this summer. See here for a glimpse into the unique way the International Chidon Ha’Tanach has adjusted to ensure the continuity of the annual competition.

And yes! The National Chidon Ha’Tanach will be happening remotely on May 3rd as well. More than 200 National Finalists have been invited to this exciting nation wide event. The remote competition will include various online competitions for individual students as well as teams to be able to win large prizes. Knowing your material well will count. Though we will not be meeting in person for the National Finals, I am excited about creating a lot of the energy that we felt at last year’s National Finals. Get excited for nation wide Tanach games, Chavrutot, shiurim and more. More information about the schedule and format will be send out in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more upcoming exciting announcements!

 

 

 

New Chidon Video, Registration 2020, and more!

If you haven’t seen it yet, please check out our newest video from the 2019 Chidon Hatanach USA National Finals. Here’s the link: Chidon National Finals 2019.

This is a reminder that that Chidon Hatanach Registration for the 2020 season is live. See the blog post below for more information. Here’s the link for registration: Chidon Hatanach 2020 Registration.

Sample regional exams and national finals exams from this past year are now posted under the exams tab.

If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at our new Facebook page too: Chidon USA Facebook Page.

Stay tuned for our new and improved website and many other exciting additions to the Chidon HaTanach over the summer and beyond. Please be in touch with me at dovin@jafi.org with any questions, suggestions, or concerns.

Have a wonderful summer! See you for Chidon Hatanach 2020!

 

 

Registration for Chidon HaTanach 2020 is Live!

The registration form for the USA Chidon HaTanach 2020 is now live!

Every school/club/private registrant must register (even if you’ve participated in the past) on the following registration link in order to receive important Chidon communications over the course of the summer and beyond. The new link to register is https://forms.gle/NHYo6mpP5Q64NhAQ9

Please check out coming year’s syllabus for a list of this year’s material as well as the schedule for dates of next year’s regional exams and national finals.

In just four years we’ve doubled the numbers of participants in the Chidon, and we keep growing! Stay tuned for exciting updates over the course of the summer and beyond.

For even more frequent Chidon updates check out our new Facebook page HERE

If you’re registering, please remember to submit the accompanying payment via PayPal. As always, please feel free be in touch with comments, suggestions, and questions. I look forward to collaborating with each of you on another impactful year of the Chidon Ha’tanach.

-Rabbi Dovi Nadel

Coordinator of National Bible Contest – Rabbi Dovi Nadel

Jewish Agency 633 Avenue; 21st Floor New York, NY 10017

Email: Dovin@jafi.org

Chidon USA Facebook Page

 

Watch Our National Champions Compete in the Chidon HaTanach International Finals!

For those of you looking to see last year’s National Champions compete at the International level, check out the following link on Yom Ha’Atzmaut right HERE . Three Americans qualified for the International Chidon Ha’Tanach: Jacob Colchamiro, Nathanel Vinar, and Yechiel Shulman. The International competition will take place at 11:00 AM in Israel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut and should be available for viewing at this link throughout the day. Elianna Sokoler will be representing the United States in the International Chidon Ha’Tzfutzot (Diaspora Contest). To watch the the Chidon Ha’Tfutzot at 2:00 PM Israel time, see HERE We wish them the best of luck!

 

 

Stop the Press! Results from Recent Chidon HaTanach National Finals!

Over two hundred forty National Finalists converged at Yeshiva University yesterday for the American Chidon Ha’Tanach National Finals. Competition was competitive! Students participated in our third annual Chidon carnival and enjoyed an inspiring day celebrating Tanach study.
For some pictures from yesterday’s amazing event, check out the following link HERE.
At the end of the day, the results rolled in and the following students were our top placers.

Hebrew Division 6-7
1 Elisha Kahan – Jewish Foundation School
2 Gavriel Cohen – Yeshiva Noam
3 Tamar Dahan –  Berman Hebrew Academy

Hebrew 8
1 Yehuda Zinberg – Yavneh Academy
2 Esther Matsa – New England Hebrew Academy
2 Chana Aspir – RYNJ

Hebrew High School
1 Nossi Shields – Yeshiva of Greater Washington
2 Ezriel Vinar – TABC
3 Elana Rosenblatt – Bruriah High School

English 6-7
1 Owen Sturm – Donna Klein Hebrew Academy
2 Aviva Rubin – Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School
3 Talia Weinstein  – Beth Meyer Religious School

English 8-11
1 Ilan Eisenberg  – Kehillah Jewish High School
2 Michael Bitman – Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School
3  Daniel Stein – Beth Israel Omaha

For more results from the finals see Chidon Hatanach Additional Results

Yehuda Zinberg, Ilan Eisenberg, Nossi Shields, and Ezriel Vinar will all go on to represent America in the International Chidon Ha’Tanach next year. Congratulations to all National Finalists. See you next year. Check out the new syllabus for next year. Never too early to get started!

Also, for those of you looking to see last year’s National Champions compete at the International level, check out the following link on Yom Ha’Atzmaut right HERE . Three Americans qualified for the International Chidon: Jacob Colchamiro, Nathanel Vinar, and Yechiel Shulman. Elianna Sokoler will be representing the United States in the International Diaspora contest. We wish them the best of luck!

 

Important Information About Upcoming National Finals!

The following important email was sent out to coaches and teachers around the country. Please see below for important information regarding the upcoming National Finals!

Chidon National Finalists, 

I hope your studies are progressing well!  You should be proud of yourselves for what you have learned, and for earning the title of Chidon National Finalist. I look forward to seeing you, our 250 Chidon National Finalists from around the entire country, assembled in one room in just one week! I would like to share a few important points with you in advance of the National Chidon Finals at Yeshiva University on Sunday, May 5^th

The Competition

1) Registration is from 8:50 A.M to 9:20 AM.  Please be prompt. Registration and opening ceremony will take place at Lamport Auditorium (For precise starting location see here.The entrance is on Amsterdam street between 186th and 187^th)

2) At 9:20, we will begin the opening assembly and registration will end. At the opening ceremony we will welcome contestants from around the country.  Contestants will be sent to the exam rooms at 9:35. The written contest will take place from roughly 9:45 AM to 12:30 PM. There will be two parts to the exam, with a short break in between them. Only actual contestants are allowed in the classroom area where the exams take place. Please see attached schedule for details.

3)  From 12:30- 1:30 after the written exams, contestants can pick up a free pizza lunch. There will also be a Chidon Carnival and Chavruta Learning. All of this will take in Weissberg Commons.  There will be trivia games set up around the room for contestants to showcase their knowledge and win raffle tickets for prizes. Chavruta learning will be a chance for contestants  to learn Torah with fellow Chidoners from around the county (age and gender will be taken into account when pairing chavrutot). Parents and non-contestants are welcome to join during this part of the day’s events.

4)  The closing assembly will begin back in Lamport auditorium at approximately 2:00 PM. Parents, family, and friends are encouraged to attend.  At the closing ceremony, we will conduct the final round of the Chidon for the highest scorers from the morning’s written tests in each of the divisions. Chidon finalists who are not called up to the front for this final round will be able to text their answers in to video questions for a chance to win prizes as well. Be sure to bring a cellphone if you’d like to participate. The ceremony will conclude at the latest by 3:30 PM with the announcement of winners and the singing of HaTikvah. Please note that every national finalist will receive a commemorative Tanach and an individualized certificates of accomplishment by the conclusion of the ceremony.  

Other Important Info

5)   Bring Pencils and Snacks: Please be sure to bring a #2 pencil, because the exam will require you to fill out a scantron form. In addition to bringing pencils, students are allowed to bring snacks with them into the testing area. Please bring a sweatshirt or coat as well as contestants will have to walk outside between the day’s events.

6)   Parking: Parking can be sometimes be difficult in Manhattan. There is a relatively decently priced ICON parking lot located on 183^rd and Amsterdam. See here for exact location. Make sure to leave some time to get situated. If you would like to take public transportation, the 1 train and A train both stop within ten minutes of YU.

7)   Minian: There are plenty of Minianim located around Yeshiva University. Please check out https://www.yuzmanim.com/ for more detail. Please make sure to arrive on time!

8)   Parents, Teachers and Non-participants – What to do during exam: While students are taking the written exams, we are thrilled to let you know that Yeshiva University will be hosting a Yom Iyyun in Tanach featuring world renowned Tanach scholars: Rabbi Jeremy Wieder, Rabbi David Forhman, Rabbanit Shani Taragin, Rabbi Shalom Carmy, Dr. Yael Leibowitz, and Dr. Smadar Rosensweig. Check out the attached brochure. All are encouraged to participate. Koren press will also be set up selling their newest books. See here: YomIyyunBeTanach

9)   Food: There will be pizza and drinks provided for contestants after the written exams. We cannot provide free lunch for family members, or other non-contestants. However, there are several kosher establishments located nearby YU.

10) Shabbat: If you are still in need of a place to stay next Shabbat, please email me directly with details of who/how many people you need a place for. There are many people from around the tri-state area who have generously offered to host fellow “Chidoners.”

11)Luggage: For those who need, there will be space to store luggage in Lamport Audiorium. We will have a place clearly marked off.

12)Navigation: The day’s events will be spread within a couple blocks around YU campus. There will be signs and volunteers around campus to help navigate the area. Please make sure that you go to Lamport Auditorium to start the day!

12) Tanach Tour on Friday: I’d like to remind you that Nachliel Selavan will be giving one of his amazing Tanach Tours at the MET on Friday, May 3^rd. There is limited availability, so sign up soon! This tour will be tailored for this years’ topics: Shemot (Egypt), Yonah (Assyria) and Esther (Persia). For those interested in participating in this unique experience, please be in touch with Nachliel directly at his email info@torahintermedia.com or text him at 929-233-0950. A brochure is attached. This is an experience you don’t want to miss! See ad here: ChidonHaTanachTouratMET

I’ve attached a simplified schedule as well. The attached schedule is not comprehensive. Please note that the timing for the concluding ceremony is approximate given the fact that the length of the final competition always varies. Please be sure to read all of the information above as well. Please continue to be in contact with your respective coaches regarding Chidon questions unless they are of an immediate concern. For sample tests or  more information about the Chidon , please see our website https://chidonusa.wordpress.com/

In the meantime, enjoy this video from last year’s National Final’s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpxfcCL6NDU&t=6s

See you soon!

-Dovi

For Brief Schedule of Day: GeneralNationalFinalsSchedueChidon2019

 

New Year of Chidon – Important Information!

The following email was recently sent out. If you did not receive it, please make sure to read below!

Chidon Teachers, Coaches, Proctors and Parents

Attached to this message please find the following important information.

• New Registration Form for the US Chidon 2019
• Cover Letter for US Chidon 2019
• Important Information About Upcoming Regional Exam
• Note from the Coordinator

 

New Registration Form for the US Chidon 2019

Every school/club/private registrant should register on the new registration link here in order to receive important Chidon communications going forward. The new link to register is: https://goo.gl/forms/osde4gbD4ibvJpNq2

Cover Letter for US Chidon 2019

Please see the following link:Cover Letter Chidon 2019

Important Information About Upcoming Regional Exam

The first exam for the Chidon Ha’Tanach will be this coming Wednesday, November 28.

The exam will be on chapters 1-24 of Shemot. I will send you electronic copies of the exams, an answer key, and accompanying instructions for the proctors late Monday with some additional information. As always, it will be your responsibility to:

1. A) Print out physical copies of the exams
2. B) Grade the exams
3. C) Submit your students’ scores on the google form that I will send out.

If you are a private registrant and have not yet arranged a proctor, please do so soon and let me know who the proctor will be. If you are taking the English division cumulative exam in march, keep up the studying! If you need more time for this first exam, please be in touch with me directly as soon as possible.

Note from the Coordinator

Once again, please make sure that you have registered on our new registration form. Thank you in advance for all of the hard work that you do for your students and on behalf of the Chidon Ha’Tanach. I would also like to take this opportunity to note that after deciding to embark on my fourth year of running this special program I am committed to being in close contact with each of you going forward. As always, please be in touch with comments, suggestions, and questions. I look forward to collaborating with each of you on another incredible year of the Chidon Ha’tanach.

חזק ואמץ

Rabbi Dovi Nadel