The University of Maryland campus buzzed with excitement as students from across the nation gathered for the Yavneh’s National Hillel Torah Bowl (NHTB) on March 28-29, 2025. This remarkable event, a program of the JLIC, brought together Jewish college students from ten prestigious institutions for a weekend of Torah study, friendly competition, and community building.
From Winning Idea to Cherished Tradition
What began as a winning pitch at Shtark Tank has now evolved into an eagerly anticipated annual tradition. The National Hillel Torah Bowl was originally conceived as a student project presented to Shtark Tank, where motivated individuals and student teams share their ideas with a panel of student leaders. These leaders provide constructive advice and funding to bring promising projects to life. The Torah Bowl’s innovative format and educational impact initially earned it recognition and financial support from this student-led entrepreneurial program, and its continued success has cemented its status as a regular fixture in the Jewish campus calendar, bringing students together to celebrate Torah knowledge year after year.
Tournament Format and Participation
Modeled after the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, the NHTB featured a competitive bracket format that created suspense and excitement throughout the weekend. The event drew an impressive turnout with 43 players, 19 board members, 7 spectators, and one Yavneh representative converging at the University of Maryland.
Teams from Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Queens College, University of Maryland, Rutgers, Brandeis, Harvard, Yeshiva University, Stern College, and Yale participated in the competition, showcasing their knowledge across a variety of Jewish topics including Tanach, Gemara, Jewish History, and Chumash.
Champions Emerge
In a remarkable display of family excellence, siblings Moed Sperling-Milner (UMD), Yona Sperling-Milner (Harvard), and Batya Sperling-Milner (a high school senior filling in last-minute for another sibling) emerged as the tournament champions. Their victory capped off an intense weekend of intellectual competition that began Friday evening and continued through late Saturday night.
Tal Bresler, who took the lead in organizing the event, ensured everything ran smoothly from the initial check-in at Hillel on Friday through the championship rounds and closing celebration on Saturday night.
Participant Perspectives
The Torah Bowl created lasting memories for all involved. Gavi Melman from Johns Hopkins University expressed his enthusiasm: “I love the spirit of Torah that infuses the entire weekend. People coming together and the energy is amazing. I REALLY love it here.”
For many participants, the event represented more than just a competition. Hallie Stern from Rutgers appreciated “having a forum to come together with students from different colleges to celebrate our Torah knowledge,” while Eliana Goldman from Columbia described the tournament as “so amazing, seeing how much everyone came together to celebrate Torah from different schools and backgrounds.”
Behind the Scenes
Board members played a crucial role in crafting the challenging questions that tested participants’ knowledge. Benjamin, a UMD board member, shared insights about the question development process: “I learned that a balance is needed—because a question is hard doesn’t mean it’s good.”
Dror, another UMD board member whose brother initiated the event, reflected on his experience: “People have different sources of information of where they learned, and it’s not always what you think. The Shabbaton is so enjoyable, so we want to make it happen every year.”
Noah Meltzer, who helped review and ask questions for the tournament, was inspired by seeing “leaders in the community making an impact on college students nationwide” and wanted to be part of that positive influence.
A Shabbat to Remember
The weekend schedule wove competition seamlessly with traditional Shabbat observances. Friday evening featured Kabbalat Shabbat services followed by the first round of games and a communal dinner. Saturday’s activities included morning services, multiple competitive rounds punctuated by meals, and culminated with the championship match after Havdalah.
Jocelyn Baruch, the Yavneh Coordinator for the greater DC area, summarized the weekend perfectly: “Yavneh’s NHTB was an absolutely fantastic Shabbat, filled with Torah and friendly competition. The entire weekend was planned and executed by students, and participants came from near and far to engage in meaningful Torah learning. It was an unforgettable experience that left everyone with great memories.”
The 2025 Yavneh’s National Hillel Torah Bowl exemplified the power of student leadership, Torah scholarship, and community building, setting a high standard for future iterations of this growing tradition in Jewish campus life.
For more information about JLIC and the Yavneh program, please reach out to any of our Directors.
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