Tanya Zahavah, a fifth-grade student at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, in suburban Kansas City, is the winner of the All-Kansas Spelling Bee title because she knew how to spell casuistry and fricassee.
The 10-year-old girl also knew how to spell soliloquy, sepulchral and perspicacity, and because of this knowledge she earned the right to represent Kansas in the finals of the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. next month.
Participating in the contest was more than just knowing how to spell difficult words, for it was held on a Saturday, and Tanya and her family — Cantor Benjamin and Dr. Rochelle Solomon, and Tanya’s younger brother, Eliezer — are Sabbath observing Jews who do no travelling or work on Shabbat.
Thus it was necessary to arrive in Topeka–where the contest was held–well before sundown on Friday, bring all their own kosher food, and find an area where the camper in which they had traveled could be parked, so the family could walk to the high school auditorium for the contest.
Tanya advanced to the state level of the Spelling Bee by winning first prize in the Johnson County Spelling Bee earlier this year. She outspelled 123 entrants, representing 60 Johnson County schools.
Tonya was one of the youngest spellers in the 29-year history of the contest, and her parents commented on the poise and calmness she displayed during the competition. Now it’s on to Washington, where Tonya will have the privilege of meeting President Reagan or, as her parents insist, “the President will have the privilege of meeting Tonyal”
(Milton Firestone is the editor of the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle.)
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