Trivial Pursuit: Argentine Teens Compete for Trip to Israel in Jewish Knowledge Game

Betina, age 16, has her sights set on a trip to Israel – the prize that will be awarded to the champion of the 1317 Miles Game. The game, designed by JDC to connect Argentine Jewish teenagers to the Jewish community, is played in a question and answer format that tests knowledge of Israeli and Jewish history, symbols, and general trivia.

"Participating in a game that involves information about the Jewish world is precisely my interest," says Betina, stroking her long, curly, blonde hair. "I have revised my studies to learn as much as I can on the subject."

Betina's parents and three brothers escort her to the youth center and cheer her on as she competes in rounds of the game. To date, she has been unbeatable – fast, clever, and quite knowledgeable about Israel and Argentine Jewry, including recent terrorist attacks against Jewish targets in Latin America.

Growing up in the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires, Betina and her family have always maintained close ties to the local Jewish community. Though they moved five years ago into the largely Jewish neighborhood in central Buenos Aires, Betina and her siblings still attend Jewish day school and recreational center activities in the south where they grew up.

"Despite all of the challenges we are facing, we are determined that our children will be educated within the Jewish community. This goal gives our lives true meaning," said Betina's mother, Sandra.

While Betina's father works as a shop employee, Sandra takes an early bus to the south with her four kids. There the children go to school, and Sandra works in a small watch repair shop. They attempt to coordinate their schedules in order to return home together on a bus in the evening.

Though the family is fortunate to a have a dual-income home, both parents' salaries are still not enough to make ends meet; the family relies on food assistance from the JDC welfare system.

"I know my parents make every effort to educate us, and in the last years they have been rowing a heavy boat. But I always feel their support, and they have achieved their goal: I feel deeply Jewish," said Betina.

Her commitment has undoubtedly helped Betina advance so effectively in the 1317 Miles Game. "To me, this game is just fantastic. It is so interesting, and creates so many expectations – I dream of winning the First Prize!"