Etgar fosters Jewish learning in primary schools through an inspiring, team-based inter-school quiz competition for 10 year olds (Year 5)
We provide a Jewish General Knowledge handbook for all students in Year 5 which contains all the information that pupils will need to answer the questions in the quiz. (We are indebted to Rabbi Ebrahimoff and the Independent Jewish Day School for allowing us to use their guide as the basis for the Etgar handbook.)
This annual event was launched in July 2013 with a competition for over 200 children, and more than 450 children attended the second Etgar Challenge in July 2014. The Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and His Excellency Daniel Taub, the Israeli Ambassador spoke and presented prizes. The event has continued to grow and has been attended by many dignitaries including the current Chief Rabbi and the Israeli Ambassador. Last year’s event in 2023 was attended by almost 1,000 children, from 28 schools from across the UK.
To view photographs and a short film of these events, please see our gallery.
Etgar offers many benefits to the Jewish schools that participate:
- Motivation – Etgar is a major event which gives teachers a unique opportunity to motivate students in their Jewish learning both in school and at home
- Inclusive – with teams of children, pupils of all abilities can participate. No child will feel exposed in a large team where questions are answered by the team as a whole.
- Flexible – schools can enter as many children as they want in teams of up to 10; the whole year could participate.
- Fun – the questions are posed in challenging and interesting ways, testing different skills including literacy, creativity, numeracy as well as memory.
- Professional – the event is highly professional and there are proper refreshments for the teams and the audience.
- Minimal cost – entry to Etgar is only £10 for each child for all schools that take part.
Every school that participates receives the following support:
Handbooks – every pupil in Year 5 will receive a copy of the Etgar General Knowledge Handbook
Weekly Challenges – teachers will receive challenges each week to help them prepare for the quiz. Children can also discuss them with their families over the Shabbat table.
Support – Please contact info@etgar.co.uk if you have any questions.
Jo Rosenfelder
Together with Adam, Jo founded Etgar in 2011. She has spent her professional career in a variety of senior commercial and legal roles in the television industry, working across many of the UK’s best-loved tv shows.
Jo is a director of the LSJS and acts as a governor of a local primary school near her home in Kilburn, having served on advisory boards of UJS, the JLC, and Tzedek. With a longstanding interest in Jewish and Israel education, Jo has spent many hours devising curricula and teaching Jewish studies to children.
She holds degrees in Political Science, Law, an MBA and a Masters in Education.
Adam Taub
Adam is a Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies where he has taught for over 10 years. He co-developed the Tanach B’Shanah course with Rabbi Rafi Zarum, which reviews the whole of the Bible in a series of 25 sessions.
Based on the teaching of Rabbi Dr Irving Jacobs, a previous Head of Jews College, Adam developed a year-long course on the Sages of the Mishnah which describes the upheaval that followed the destruction of the Second Temple
Adam has also taught a year-long course on Midrash at LSJS. He is also on the faculty of the London Jewish Cultural Centre where he has taught a course entitled “Why be Jewish?”
Atarah Ruback
Atarah is Etgar’s Director, charged with turning Etgar’s vision into reality.
Atarah is responsible for the smooth running of all of Etgar’s projects as well as the day to day running of the Etgar office.
Having spent over 20 years in the events industry organising large conferences and other forums for both corporate and private clients, Atarahs wealth of experience is evident in her strategic insight, calm and considered manner together with her keen focus and attention to detail.
Miki Shaw
Miki is the graphic designer and illustrator for Etgar.
She has over twenty years commercial experience in graphics, animation, events, BAFTA award-winning computer games development and educational research.
Miki has worked as a freelance designer and illustrator for many non-profit and educational organisations in the Jewish community. She is also a practising visual artist and runs creative workshops for children and adults.
