The 2026 Israel Quiz, led by Ronli Dorfman, Rabbi Ramon Widmonte, and the Academy of Jewish Thought and Learning, recently took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. The competition challenged participants on their knowledge of Israeli history, people, geography, and defining moments. Months of preparation culminated in a closely contested final, with participants demonstrating an impressive command of material about the State of Israel. The quiz was organized by the South African Zionist Federation.
Hailey Symons, a Grade 11 pupil at King David High School, emerged as the winner of the 2026 Israel Quiz, taking home the top prize – a ticket to Israel. The annual competition aims to educate young Jews about Israel, its history, achievements, challenges, people, and places. For many young Jews, Israel is increasingly encountered through the prism of war, politics, protest, and social media. The quiz offers a different encounter, asking them to know Israel.
The purpose of the Israel Quiz extends beyond finding the pupil who knows the most answers. It seeks to nurture a meaningful connection to Israel through education, experience, and conversation. Programmes like the Israel Quiz give young people the opportunity to discover Israel for themselves rather than allowing their understanding of the country to be defined by headlines or social media posts.
The competition demonstrates that Zionist education need not feel like a lesson or lecture. By turning knowledge into competition, the quiz creates excitement around learning and rewards the curiosity and commitment of those prepared to immerse themselves in Israel’s story. This approach has particular significance today, as young South African Jews need to nurture their connection to Israel.
The Israel Quiz combines serious learning with the excitement and competitiveness of a quiz. Dorfman invested considerable energy in ensuring that the quiz remains something young people genuinely want to participate in. The programme has created a new generation of young South Africans with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Israel.
Symons’ victory and the ticket to Israel that came with it were a fitting conclusion to the competition. After demonstrating how much she knew about Israel from a classroom in Johannesburg, she will now have the opportunity to experience the country for herself. This hands-on experience will likely deepen her connection to Israel and provide a new perspective.
The success of the 2026 Israel Quiz was considerably broader than just one winner. Every participant walked away knowing more about Israel than when they began. At a time when Israel is frequently spoken about, argued over, and judged, ensuring that the next generation of South African Jews is given the opportunity to learn about it, understand it, and connect with it for themselves is particularly powerful.
Key points
- The 2026 Israel Quiz was organized by the South African Zionist Federation and led by Ronli Dorfman, Rabbi Ramon Widmonte, and the Academy of Jewish Thought and Learning.
- Hailey Symons, a Grade 11 pupil at King David High School, emerged as the winner and earned a ticket to Israel.
- The quiz aims to educate young Jews about Israel, its history, achievements, challenges, people, and places, and to nurture a meaningful connection to the country.
