"I Told the Officer: 'There's No Time; Tell Me If to Arrange a Funeral or Go to the Hospital'"

The Binyanei Ha'uma hall was packed from wall to wall: thousands of students, teachers, and principals, including prominent rabbis and educators who came to participate in the Shabbat Quiz. The excitement was immense, and no one could remain indifferent as excited representatives from dozens of schools across the country took to the stage, there to participate in the quiz organized by 'Simchat Moshe Rabbeinu'. The moment they had been waiting for for months had arrived; they would be tested in the Shabbat quiz, and the national winner would be declared.

But behind the scenes, there was one person especially moved. This was Moshe Sagron, the initiator of the 'Shabbat Quiz', which he has been accompanying for 18 years, all following a significant ordeal he experienced on the eve of Shabbat.

(Photo: Chaim Tuito, Production: Tzvaim Productions)

Tragedy on the Eve of Shabbat

"It happened 18 years ago," shares Sagron, "my son, Yosef, 24 years old, left on Friday morning and informed us he'd be back shortly. Hours passed and Yosef did not return. My wife was very worried from the start, as he did not answer his phone, even though she called repeatedly. I tried to calm her, but in truth, I was also worried. Meanwhile, I went to immerse in the mikvah as I do every Friday, and when I returned home, I joined my wife who was sitting on the porch waiting for Yosef. Unfortunately, he did not come home and instead, a police officer and a social worker appeared on the street. The officer asked if he could come up to the house, but I guessed what he was going to tell us, so I said to him: 'Sir, we have no time, in two hours Shabbat begins, just tell me if I should go to the hospital or bury the child'. The officer was shocked by the response, he tried again to ask to come up, but I made it clear there was no time, and finally, he replied: 'Baruch Dayan Ha'emet, your son was killed in a car accident'. It was two hours before Shabbat, and despite the great shock and unimaginable sorrow, we understood we must see to Yosef's burial before Shabbat. To this day, I have no explanation for how we managed to receive all the necessary permits in less than an hour. Yosef's funeral was held, and a quarter of an hour before Shabbat, we had already finished the burial. It was a true miracle, really a great *si'ata d'shamaya*. Even before the funeral, I sent my wife to the hospital because I feared for her wellbeing, and after the funeral ended, I returned home to welcome Shabbat."

(Photo: Chaim Tuito, Production: Tzvaim Productions)

What was Shabbat like after such a tragedy?

"The first thing I told my children is that everyone can react as they wish, and whoever feels unable to stop crying can also cry, but please do so in their room, because I intend to sit around the Shabbat table and honor it in the best possible way, and this would be the greatest gift for Yosef. I explained to the children that now Yosef is in the World of Truth, he can no longer act on his own, but we can make him happy and decide to celebrate the Shabbat we received from the Creator of the Universe in his honor, with songs and melodies, meat, wine, and Kiddush. The children agreed with me, and indeed we had a particularly uplifting Shabbat."

The strong desire to act for his son's elevation continued to drive Sagron. "From the moment Yosef passed away, I felt I could not think about myself anymore, only about what I would give my son," he explains, "all my mind and thoughts were dedicated to thinking 'what can I do for his elevation', and I quickly knew I wanted to act for strengthening Shabbat observance, which has always been very close to my heart. Ever since I was a child growing up in a maabara (immigrant transit camp), I knew Shabbat was the most honored of days, feeling the warmth and love of Shabbat; I always tried to endear Shabbat to my family, and the fact Yosef died on the eve of Shabbat was symbolic and demonstrated to me that this is what the Creator of the Universe wants from me, to strengthen the people of Israel in observing the Shabbat queen."

Photo: Chaim Tuito, Production: Tzvaim Productions

The Initiative: A National Quiz for Children

The goal Sagron set before him was clear: to help as many people as possible observe Shabbat, and soon a brilliant idea came to his mind. "It's not easy to convince adults to keep Shabbat, but when you approach school children and strengthen them in the matter through learning and receiving prizes, they naturally influence their parents at home," he explains. This is how the idea of the 'Shabbat Quiz' was born, and this year it will take place for the 18th consecutive time.

"Initially, only children from schools in Yavniel, the settlement where I live, participated in the quiz," Sagron explains, "but soon I also reached Tiberias, and the initiative expanded and reached Safed and the entire region. I personally approached school principals I knew and offered them to involve their students in the quiz that would be held in a large hall. In the early years, we held the quiz on Yosef's memorial day, the 4th of Nissan, but over time and development, we moved the quiz to Binyanei Ha'uma, and also changed the date to a more convenient time – the 7th of Adar, the yahrzeit of Moses our teacher. Our organization is also named 'Simchat Moshe Rabbeinu', after him."

And who is responsible for the content the children learn and who prepares the quiz?

"Although the initiative and idea are mine, I'm a simple person who works as a carpenter, not really knowledgeable in drafting laws and writing quizzes. Luckily, I've gathered additional partners – Sharon Sha'ar, head of Yeshivat Netivot Dror,

Rabbi Amos Shoshan, the organization rabbi, Yoram Shesh, the financial director, Amos Porat, the operations manager, and Shimon Arbiv, the deputy director. I continue to travel across the country to meet principals and enlist them for this important cause, but the quiz is practically operated by my dear partners."

(Photo: Chaim Tuito, Production: Tzvaim Productions)

Who is the Shabbat Quiz intended for?

"Our quiz is intended for children in 5th and 6th grades, and we initially target it to all sectors, but those who usually join are religious Zionist and ultra-Orthodox schools, and of course also Talmud Torah schools. We always emphasize that learning is important and necessary for everyone, as the Chofetz Chaim said: 'He who does not learn Shabbat laws, will surely desecrate Shabbat'. All participating schools receive at the start of the year a very easy pamphlet with child-appropriate Shabbat laws divided according to the days of the year. Each day has its lesson. The learning continues daily for about a minute, and we often hear feedback from mothers and sisters who say they also joined the learning, which is definitely welcomed. Our unequivocal aspiration is for as many children and homes to observe Shabbat, and we truly hear many stories of those who came closer and observed Shabbat because of the quiz; it moves us every time anew."

Winners and Benefactors

Is there only one winner chosen among all the children tested?

"Absolutely not," Sagron responds, wanting to clarify an important point: "We are aware that the representatives of the schools sent to us are children who have studied and persevered, but naturally, there are schools that send stronger children, and schools where the children are less strong. We don't want a situation where the weaker children will be crushed, so we have already informed the principals that for us, every child chosen as a representative of the school is a winner, and he also goes on stage and receives gifts. Additionally, we ask each school to choose five vice-winners, allowing more children to be selected and participate in the national quiz. In practice, one representative from each school goes on the stage, but his deputies remain in the audience and receive 'clickers' that allow them to press the correct answers and thus also participate in answering the questions displayed on the screen. Moreover, all children who participated in the school quiz, even if they weren't chosen as winners or vice-winners, receive certificates from us distributed at their schools, where they hold a big ceremony for them."

(Photo: Chaim Tuito, Production: Tzvaim Productions)

What prizes do the children receive?

"Usually, we give the child who wins first place a set of Shas, while the second and third places receive the 'full Yalkut Yosef'. The other participants receive a very respectable prize worth about 150 shekels each, and every child from the thousands attending the event to support their friends receives a book related to Shabbat observance, and last time we also distributed a siddur. Additionally, the child winning first place gets the right to take his class on a fun day trip, including lunch, and the top three winners receive a flight in the skies of the country with an aircraft specially flying for them."

Who funds the quiz?

"Our Father in Heaven," Sagron replies with a smile, "It really involves very high funds, and from Heaven, they seemingly don't allow any council or municipal authority to take on the funding, despite our many appeals and requests. So we rely on donations and somehow manage each time to secure the necessary funds for production. G-d helps us, and of course, Shabbat contributes its part."

Contact Moshe Sagron to join the quiz: 0534202617