“Are you ready for Etgar?” bellowed the compère, Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue’s Rabbi Marc Levene, for the third time.

And up rose the roar of assent from nearly a thousand year-5 pupils, so loud that the angels must have covered their ears with their wings.

After two years of Covid-era remote events, the annual inter-school quiz was back in person and in full cry, with teams from 28 Jewish primaries filling the Great Hall at one of the country’s great competition arenas, Wembley Stadium, last Thursday.

“I’m absolutely gobsmacked,” said Jackie Halter, a Jewish studies teacher from one of the smallest schools taking part, King David Primary, Birmingham, as she gazed on the balloon-festooned scene for the first time.

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Etgar 2022 (Photo by Silvio Palladino)

Noting that the school’s children ranged from Chabadnik to mixed faith, King David's religious education head Esther Cohen observed: “It appeals to everybody, Etgar has pitched it right. It frames the core Jewish knowledge that Jewish children need to learn in an exciting and fun way. It brings Judaism alive.”

Later she observed, “Not one child has asked to go to the toilet which is an indciation of their engagement.”

Ninety-nine teams grappled with two rounds of Jewish knowledge questions, based on the Etgar Handbook they had been studying over the course of the year, as well as putting their talents to the test in a number of creative tasks.

“I find it very stressful just watching them,” said deputy head of North London’s Sacks Morasha, Justin Kett.

“It was a bit hard but we managed to do it,” said Hannah, a student from Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox in Salford, whose contingent arrived in the nick of time moments before the start, having had to wait for a tube from the rail station.

“We knew we’d make it,” said Broughton teacher Shana Burton. “This is the first trip outside school after Covid. I’ve never seen the kids so excited and happy.”

Joining so many children from other Jewish schools, all of whom had been learning the same things, was an educational experience in itself. “It gives them a wider sense of who they are.”

Making their debut at the contest were Yavneh College from Hertfordshire and the cross-communal Alma from North London. “The kids were super-enthusiastic and very excited to be here and see children from all over the country,” said Jewish learning lead Jeanie Horowitz.

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Etgar 2022 (Photo by Silvio Palladino)

“It’s all about teamwork,” said Alma pupil Kayla. “If someone is not contributing, then it slows down the whole thing.”

Rabbi Jeff Berger, who dropped in from the neighbouring Wembley Sephardi Synagogue, said, “It inspired me to watch not only how impactful the Etgar curriculum is on forming the identity and confidence in learning of the children, but in making it so much fun.

“There wasn’t a child in the room who wouldn’t remember the joy of competing, of circle dancing during the interval and of working as a team toward answering what were some pretty tough questions even for a rabbi to answer.”

Chatting to a group of Met police assigned to look after the event, he reported, “A Greek-Cypriot officer beamingly said how impressed he was with the children’s politeness and good behaviour.”

For the third year running, Nancy Reuben Primary in North-West London took the gold medal with its team A recording the highest table score, followed by Shalom Noam B in silver position and Kerem B in bronze, also London schools.

“They really put in a wonderful effort,” said Chaya Rubens, of Nancy Reuben. From the start of the year she makes a point of connecting what her children learn in class to Etgar and even makes up songs with them as revision aids.

There was glory too for Rimon Primary from North-West London which won the trophy for overall school performance for all its teams. “I never thought we would win,” said Rimon pupil Jesse.

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Smiling faces at Etgar 2022 (Photo by Silvio Palladino)

“I was so shocked, I can’t believe it,” said classmate Sophia. “It’s such an amazing accomplishment.” The challenge “definitely gives you a push to study and put in the effort.”

“We are the first people to win in our school and it will be really exciting to go back and say we’ve won,” added Olivia.

Wolfson Hillel E won the creative challenge to design a postage stamp. The best front page for “The Sinai Times”, reporting the exploits of the Israelites after the Exodus, was created by Yavneh B, with Menorah Foundation C runners up. The best poster to advertise the learning of aleph-bet was designed by North Cheshire Jewish Primary A, with Menorah Foundation B in second place.

As the judges deliberated, the hall broke into a whirl of horas and congas with arm-waving teachers leading their dancing troops. Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely stopped to sign autographs after the prize-giving, while Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said, “I am proud of you all. And thank you for giving me happiness, joy and naches today. God bless you all."