Seven-Year-Old Chess Champion

Many of the Israelis who we introduce you to have spent decades of their lives doing amazing things in and/or for the Jewish state. But this week's Israeli You Should Know is just beginning her life, but as Tablet's Liel Leibovitz tells us, seven-year-old Liel Levitan has great things in mind, even after winning the European Chess Championship:

Liel Levitan is 7. She lives in Haifa with her parents and her three siblings. She recently graduated from the first grade. In her spare time, she likes to play chess. And this week, she won the European championship for schoolchildren her age...

After her victory—she played seven games and scored six points, earning her the top spot—Levitan, wrapped in a large Israeli flag, climbed the large podium and beamed as besuited representatives of the European Chess Union shook her hand and placed a gold medal, almost as large as her head, around her neck. Then, Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, was played, completing Levitan’s moment of glory.

“It was very moving,” said Levitan. “I love chess. I think it’s a game for all ages, not only for grown-ups. My dream is to be the champion of the world.”

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