The fifth annual JewQ International Jewish Knowledge Championship was recently held in Stamford, Connecticut. Over 300 regional finalists from 26 countries worldwide competed for the title of JewQ champion in a day filled with challenging games and crossfire questions.
JewQ is an innovative program from CKids, Chabad”s Children’s Educational Department, that runs in Hebrew schools worldwide. It is designed to gamify Hebrew school education and motivate children and their families to connect to their Jewish identity in a fun way. Over 3,500 children from 235 schools participated in the program, an increase of 40% from the previous year.
The JewQ Championship is the culmination of a year-long program where Jewish kids studied and competed on a regional level. The final event brought together Hebrew school finalists from around the world to showcase their mastery of Jewish knowledge. Participants from Australia, France, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, the UK, Portugal, and India competed in this year’s event.
The competition is divided into three segments, with questions becoming progressively more complex in each grade level. All participants are Hebrew/Sunday school students who study for the competition in their spare time, without attending Yeshiva or Jewish day school.
The event also featured special challenges posed to the contestants by famous guests, including Israel’s chief Rabbi David Lau, who made a virtual appearance.
“The JewQ program not only teaches our children about our rich heritage but also empowers them to take ownership of their Jewish identity and bring it home to their families, creating a generation of young leaders who will continue to inspire and educate others for years to come,” said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Merkos L”inyonei Chinuch, Chabad”s educational arm.
The young scholars competed in front of a sold-out crowd of 800 in-person spectators plus thousands of supporters back home joining the online live stream.