Meet Elad Yanir: The American Teen Bible Quiz Champion

"I've always felt connected to the Bible and enjoyed studying it with my father and brother, but it was only two years ago that I started considering competing in the quiz," says Elad Yanir, a high school sophomore from Petah Tikva who won the title of '2024 International Bible Quiz Champion' during the competition held on Independence Day. "In practice," he says, "the real preparation began exactly a year ago, right after last Independence Day. That's when I decided to take on the challenge seriously and dive in with full force."

When Elad says "full force," he means it. "Every day I studied and prepared for hours. There were days when I studied for 12 straight hours. It was very intensive, but I believe that because the study was focused, it was also high quality, and I managed to absorb and memorize the details."

"No Day Without Study"

Elad lives in Petah Tikva and attends Amit Bar-Ilan High School, where he's in the gifted students program. He participated in the quiz alongside 17 other contestants from around the world, taking first place after surpassing his runner-up Ilan Ram, a senior at Yeshiva Frisch in the United States.

As a sophomore, how did you find the time for so much memorization? Surely you had other commitments as well...

"True, I didn't put my life on hold for the quiz. I continued going to school and doing my regular activities, and that was really the biggest challenge – to manage studying even during busy times and on complex days. But anyone who asks my friends will hear that I didn't give up on significant things, though I did sacrifice activities like sports for the sake of studying. I knew I owed it to myself because only in that way would I achieve my goal."

Have you always had such strong willpower?

He ponders for a moment. "I think so," he finally responds, "I'm the type who likes setting challenges for myself and then meeting them. But the quiz gave me a huge gift – succeeding in meeting the small goals on the way to the big target, and that's the real satisfaction. Not the victory, but the journey and the daily effort."

Did you have study methods that helped you remember all the material?

"Yes, definitely. Before I started preparing for the quiz, I talked to world Bible champions and asked about the techniques that helped them achieve their success, and I learned from them. I also utilized memory techniques from Eran Katz, the world memory champion: I recorded myself reading the relevant chapters and listened during commutes or while doing chores at home. I recorded each prophet's story to a different melody, which helped me separate the stories and remember them.

"Personally, I realized pretty quickly that it's hard to remember names and dates, but it's easier to remember stories. So I tried to link each detail in the Bible to a narrative, and when I needed to remember lists of 'who begot whom' or numbers, I created organized lists for myself and just memorized them by heart."

What were the reactions you got around you – from family and friends? Were they supportive?

"My family was very supportive and gave me the best conditions to study. The teachers at school also understood and tried to be considerate. My friends, at first, didn't connect with the idea and tried to persuade me: 'Come hang out with us' and 'How much can you study?' But eventually, they understood I was serious and not swayed by any remark, and then they began to encourage and push me. As I succeeded in the early quiz stages, they were fully behind me, felt part of the success, and we shared the excitement together."

(Photo: Miri Shmuelovich)

How did the early stages look? When and in what setting did they take place?

"The first exam was held at the beginning of the year, around Chanukah, and it was considered the easiest stage. From each school, two or three would take it, and most passed successfully. About a month later, the regional quiz was held, which was at a higher level, and many didn't make it. Afterward, we moved to the regional-public quiz, and those who passed it went on to the national exam some months later. Finally, the top six reached the quiz on Independence Day along with 12 more representatives from around the world."

Does that mean you had to master all the material already for the first quiz during Chanukah?

"Not exactly, because the material accumulates from test to test. In the first exam, you're tested only on the first 200 chapters, then 300 and 400, and progress gradually. In every test, you also memorize the chapters you've been tested on along with new ones, so there's improvement in your mastery every time. The more you take tests, the more you learn from mistakes and teach yourself how to respond to questions in the quiz."

"Life is a Test"

Those who watched the quiz in real time probably saw the pressure on the participants' faces when they had to provide answers, yet Elad seemed the calmest of all.

Did you really not feel nervous?

"To be honest, I actually did," he admits, "though they told me I looked calm because outwardly I sat relaxed and leaned back, also a water bottle helped calm me. But inside, there was great pressure bubbling. I remember right before the world quiz, just a few minutes before going on stage, I felt the pressure weighing on me, so I sat quietly and started doing calming breaths that helped me relax."

Another tense moment he remembers was during the national exam when he realized he made an error and wouldn't take first place. "For a moment, I felt weak and thought 'I'm not good enough,' but I immediately shook it off and told myself: 'I might not be first in the national exam, but if I answer all the remaining questions correctly, I'll advance to the world quiz.'"

What went through your mind when you were named first place in the world quiz?

"I was backstage, and when my competitor returned there and told me he scored fewer points than I did, I realized what it meant. I was supposed to be happy, but it was a somewhat strange happiness, because at the end of the day, you don't really want to celebrate at your competitor's expense. Even after the event ended, I continued to feel strange. Something didn't sit right – I studied so much and dedicated countless hours, and suddenly it was all over in such a short time."

What was it like the day after the victory? Does time suddenly feel empty and routine kick in?

"Not really. In the first few days, I participated in a camp hosted by the Ministry of Education, which took all quiz participants on tours across the country. After the camp ended, I went to pray at the Kotel to thank Hashem for the victory, and then returned to school – that's also something that needs to be done. I know I'll eventually need to return to a routine, but I'm trying to come up with plans to fill it."

What plans do you have in mind?

"I have several personal goals of furthering my Bible studies, and I intend to help other participants prepare for the quiz and guide them through the learning process. Additionally, I've been helping others with memory techniques, which are the same techniques that can be beneficial for anyone, like studying for a degree.

"Beyond that, I know there's more expected of me now than anyone else to prove the application of the Bible because our Torah is meant not just to be studied but also to be lived. Now it's on me to make it practical in everyday life, and that's the biggest and real test."

For anyone thinking of competing next year and maybe succeeding, do you have any tips or suggestions?

"First of all – start doing something," he advises. "That means picking up a Bible and just beginning to read and learn. Keep in mind that at first, it might be a bit frustrating as you feel it's too much and that you can’t possibly get acquainted with all the material, but it's always good to aim high and remember that anything is possible. I can also share that even before I began studying for the quiz, I imagined myself in the auditorium, on stage with all the contestants. It was still far off, but I felt like I was already there. Also, consulting with past winners on how they studied can be very helpful, and I'm also here to answer anyone who wants with joy and happiness."