Eitan Amos, 18, a student at Yeshivat Or Chaim in Toronto, won first place in the contest, held every year in Israel on Independence Day. He reportedly is the first Canadian to win first place in the contest since Leiby Warner did so in 1974 at age 14.

Amos lived in Karnei Shomron, in the West Bank, until the age of 11. He will attend post-high school yeshiva in Maale Adumim, also in the West Bank, next year.

Tefilah Berenson of Rehovot, Israel took second place in the contest, which also included high school students from the United States, Mexico, Panama and Argentina.

Seventy-five contestants from 33 countries participated in the early rounds of the contest. Sixteen participated in Tuesday’s finals.