Jewish teenagers from across the globe gathered Sunday at the ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv for the International Youth Bible Contest, marking the first time the prestigious event was held at the museum. The competition, which airs live on Ynetnews, is part of a month-long celebration marking the permanent display of the Codex Sassoon, the world’s oldest and most complete Hebrew Bible.
The contest, held in English with translations available in Hebrew, featured participants from dozens of countries and concluded a major educational initiative organized in partnership with the Education Ministry.
The Bible contest launch also coincides with the museum’s unveiling of the Codex Sassoon, a nearly 1,100-year-old manuscript purchased for $38.1 million at Sotheby’s in 2023 and considered the most complete Hebrew Bible in existence. The Codex arrived in Israel just days before the October 7 attacks and will now be on permanent display beginning May 12, 2025.
As part of the celebrations, the museum opened an exhibition of the Oritā of Kes Abba Yitzhak Aysu, a rare manuscript from the Ethiopian Jewish tradition. The exhibition, curated in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, offers a glimpse into the sacred texts and oral traditions preserved by the Beta Israel community.
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The program of events will continue through Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah. Additional highlights include a May 15 lecture by Codex curator Irit Shapira-Meir and a family challah-baking event on May 25 led by renowned baker Idan Chabasov, also known as The Challah Prince.
ANU officials say the International Bible Contest reflects the enduring connection between young Jews and their heritage, while celebrating the Codex Sassoon as a symbol of cultural resilience and unity.