32nd Annual Public Speaking Contest Goes Digital

Details:

This year's contest was held online by video. 

Who was Eligible:
Students in grades 4-7 from across the Lower Mainland. There was a Hebrew speakers category.

Topics:

• Vancouver has decided to name a street after someone important in Jewish   history.  Who would you choose and why?
• Our name says a lot about us. Sometimes it tells us where we came from; sometimes it tells us about the dreams that our parents have for us. How did your parents choose your name and what does your name say about you?
• What makes a piece of art or music Jewish?  Is it Jewish just because the person who created it is Jewish or does it have to have something Jewish embedded in it (i.e. a Jewish symbol, tradition or value).
• There is a concept in Judaism that one mitzvah generates another mitzvah.  What does this mean to you?
• You have been asked to create a brand new Game App to promote a Jewish value or practice.  Which Jewish value or practice would you choose and what would the app look like.
• Schools have a zero tolerance policy for bullying.  Explain why not being a bully and helping out those who are being bullied is a Jewish concept.
• Describe a day in the life of an Israeli soldier as you imagine it.
• Israel is well known for innovations.  Choose what you think is the most important innovation to come out of Israel in the past 5 years and explain why you chose this.
• Hundreds of people benefit every month from the Jewish Food Bank.  How does this connect with our Jewish values and what else can we be doing to help people in need in our community?
• From a Jewish perspective should leaders be held accountable for mistakes they made a long time ago?
• Today many people are concerned about climate change.  What does the Torah say about caring for the land and how can we integrate Jewish values with environmental protection?
• Topic of your choosing

Winners of the Contest

Grade 4

3rd place - Ruby McNamara

2nd place - Micah Felgar

1st place - Jillian Plotkin 

Grade 5, Group 1

3rd place: Ethan Averbach

2nd place: Ayla Greenberg

1st place: Jake Silver

Grade 5, Group 2

3rd place: Ella Gelfand

2nd place: Davey Kallner

1st place: Anonymous

Grade 6

3rd place: Sarah Malul

2nd place: Anne Cohen

1st place: Jake Murphy

Grade 7

Chaya Malul

Hebrew

Jonathan Appelberg