Uri Binder
Bedouin Whips Israelis
Thu Apr 22, 2004 16:20
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Bedouin whips Israelis in Bible studies competition

Every year the school in Omer in the Negev holds a bible contest. This year’s surprise winner: a Bedouin 5th grader
Uri Binder


The National Bible Contest takes place every year on Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. In anticipation of the event, schools around the country hold their own bible contests to select the student with a breadth of knowledge of their biblical tradition, who will represent the school in the national contest. The surprise winner in this year’s contest at the “Omerim” school in the town of Omer in the Negev: Amir Abu-Farkha, a Bedouin 5th grader.

Many students try for the contest, but are weeded out gradually as 12 students from the 5th and 6th grades make the finals. This year’s contest was devoted to the theme of “loving your fellow man”. At the end of the difficult contest, school principal Rachel Shustak and the school rabbi awarded the first prize to an excited Amir.

Amir may be a good bible student, but what’s surprising about his win is that the bible is not exactly in his tradition: Amir is a Bedouin. But that makes the principal even prouder: “Amir is the first among equals, and we are very proud of him”, she said yesterday. “He is a top student who has invested a great deal in his studies and that’s how he won first place in the contest”.

Long time residents of Israel may recall the classic “gefen-gafen” skit when reading this story.
[ http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=6370 ]