Test your knowledge

3. Which is the only fast day that can fall on a Friday?

4. Rosh Hashanah La-ilanot falls in which month of the Jewish year?

Welcome to the first edition of our Judaica Quiz for 2023! We hope you had a happy and safe summer. We are so excited that once again, Rabbi David Freedman lends his broad-based Judaica knowledge to this unique quiz for the benefit of us all! It is simultaneously educational and enjoyable and he always explores a plethora of pathways to garner this interesting and inspiring information.

The following questions cover many themes, from our joyous festivals to history to Israeli culture to geography to the Hebrew language and so much more! Make sure you ask your Shabbat guests to join in at your table so you can answer this quiz as a group, learning and laughing along the way!

1. The Shammash (either the role of someone in synagogue who assists with the service, or the name of the candle used to light all other Chanukah lights) is connected linguistically to which astronomic feature?

2. On a Hebrew keyboard which of the following three letters is found on the bottom row of letters: a) Mem b) Final Mem or c) Dalet?

5. ‘Tagin’ are scribal strokes drawn above certain Hebrew letters. Where would one most expect to see these features?

6. True or false, a person who has just lost a parent is entitled to an Aliyah (a

10. Who warned the future King David of imminent danger by shooting three arrows into a field?

11. Which famous 18th century Lithuanian rabbi is well known by the acronym – the Gra?

12. Which song written by Jack Yellen and Lew Pollack, first recorded by Willie Howard, was made famous in Vaudeville by Belle Baker and by Sophie

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In the words of Billy Cox, Jimi Hendrix's bass guitarist: “Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone.” call up to the Sefer Torah) during the week of mourning?

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16. Two Israelis, Esther and Abi Ofarim, had an international smash hit record in 1968. Complete the second word of its title: ‘Cinderella ---’?

17. Kadur-Mayim is the Hebrew for which Olympic sport?

18. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein was one of the leading rabbis of the twentieth century. Born in Belarus, in which country did he live for most of his life?

19. The biblical king Rehoboam famously said, “My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” Who was Rehoboam’s father?

20. St Paul, otherwise known as Paul of Tarsus was originally Jewish – what was his Hebrew name?

7. Which famous Zionist, born in Russia in 1856 and died at Degania Alef in Mandate Palestine in 1922, was influenced by Leo Tolstoy and founded Hapoel Hatzair? This person claimed that working the land was a sacred task, not only for the individual but for the entire Jewish people?

8. Which Chasidic personality said, “If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?” a) 1956 b) 1966 c) 1976?

9. Which member of the current Israeli government almost caused a riot by visiting the Temple Mount recently?

Tucker, and was also sung by artists Neil Sedaka and Tom Jones?

13. The first television channel opened in Israel in which year?

14. Throughout the first four lines of the liturgical hymn, Ein Keloheinu, four Hebrew words are repeatedly used as names for the Almighty: God, Lord, King and Saviour. Why were they written in this order?

15. The following neighbourhoods: Bat Galim, Kiryat Eliezer, Neve Sha’anan and Ramat HaTishbi, are all part of which city in Israel?

21. Which geographical feature that measures 7,000 kilometres from the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon to Mozambique in Southeast Africa runs along the eastern side of Israel?

22. How many chapters are there in the biblical Book of Esther: a) 8 b) 9 c) 10?

23. In which era of Jewish history would one come across the name, Tomás de Torquemada?

24. Name the seven countries in the Americas with the highest Jewish populations.

25. Who wrote the Israeli song, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav?