Local Twin Brothers Win National Prize

Some kids participate in spelling bees while others are mathletes. Akiva and Raphael Shrier, 12, are winners when it comes to bible stories.

On Sunday, April 30, Akiva, who goes by Jack, took third place, and his twin Raphael (Rafi) placed fifth in the Chidon HaTanach finals.

“It’s an amazing experience to study Tanach every day for almost a full school year and then meet kids from all around the U.S. who have been doing the same thing,” – Raphael Shrier

“It’s an amazing experience to study Tanach every day for almost a full school year and then meet kids from all around the U.S. who have been doing the same thing,” Raphael told the Journal.

Jack said his favorite part was, “Chatting with the other kids before the tests.”

The boys, who attend Yavneh Hebrew Academy in Los Angeles, were the highest-scoring seventh graders in the country in the Middle School Division. The ones who placed first, second and fourth were all eighth graders.

The National Bible Contest, Chidon HaTanach, is sponsored by the Jewish Agency for American Jewish youth in grades six to 11. It tests students on the details of stories in several Biblical books. The Jewish Agency sends preliminary exams to schools during the school year (from December to March). They then invite the high scorers to the national finals in New York.

This is the second year the boys have competed and won. Last year, Raphael placed first and Jack placed second in the Sixth Grade Division.

The twins learned about the contest in 2021. One of their counselors at their Bnei Akiva summer camp, Camp Stone, inspired them. 

“He had participated in the Chidon for years, and he encouraged my boys to do the same,” the twins’ father Zach told the Journal. “When they returned from camp at the end of the summer, they were clamoring to get started.”

Jack and Raphael studied before and after school and on weekends, and often tested each other.

 “If you want to be uplifted, if you want to feel hopeful for the Jewish future, sign your kids up for the Chidon HaTanach,” Zach said. “There’s nothing else like it.”