BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Gerry Pfeffer considers himself to be pretty good at trivia. By his own admission he spends quite a bit of time on it, especially the crafting of challenging, entertaining questions.
Pfeffer — think of him as Indiana’s version of Alex Trebek — is gearing up to once again test Indiana area residents on their trivia skills as the co-organizer and master of ceremonies for Trivia Night to benefit the Beth Israel Synagogue in Indiana.
Now in its ninth year, Trivia Night has been growing in popularity and participation. Pfeffer, who is also the president of the synagogue, anticipates as many as 14 teams and perhaps 140 contestants will compete for gift certificate prizes and bragging rights at this year’s competition at 7 p.m. Saturday. It’s being staged again at the Eagles Lodge in Indiana after outgrowing its previous venues in the Atrium and at the College Lodge.
Pfeffer, a telecommunications manager for Indiana University of Pennsylvania in his day job, said the concept of a trivia competition as a fundraiser in Indiana migrated from Arizona. A brother of Cari Meil, another Beth Israel Synagogue member, organized a similar event out west and shared with Pfeffer some ideas. Similarly, representatives from other Indiana-area organizations have asked Pfeffer for advice in possibly starting their own trivia fundraisers.
“I put together the questions” for the Beth Israel Synagogue event with some help from Alan Baumler, an IUP history professor, Pfeffer said. “We try to have a mix of questions so it’s not totally geared toward men or women or young or old” contestants.
Categories in past years have ranged from U.S. presidents to Dr. Seuss. One category was “The Simpsons,” and many participants assumed it would have questions about the animated TV sitcom. Instead, correct answers were singer Jessica Simpson, Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson and other famous people with that surname.
Audio questions are popular and entertaining as well. In one Trivia Night competition, participants were asked, “In Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man,’ what was Paul’s occupation?” Later, when part of the song was played to provide the answer, everyone got to sing along. (“Now Paul is a real estate novelist, who never had time for a wife …”).
Video questions are also favorites. In the category “Second Story,” contestants were shown photos of interesting architecture along Indiana’s Philadelphia Street. But the images were of the upper floors of buildings and participants were asked, “What well-known store front is below this?”
Pfeffer said he and the other organizers try to make the trivia questions “as black and white as possible” so that the answers are not open to debate or interpretation.
Each team of six to 10 members will answer 10 questions in each of eight rounds. There are also some time-filler questions between rounds (for example, matching foreign countries to the names of their currencies), so participants could face 95 questions during the competition.
“Typically, the winning team will have something in the 70s” as its final score, Pfeffer said.
Between rounds, the contestants enjoy desserts, fruits and cheeses and Commonplace Coffee House coffee, and this year a “Tel Aviv Deli” will be featured. The Eagles’ cash bar will have wine and beer available.
Team members pay $35 each to compete, and more cash is raised by individuals and businesses who volunteer to be table sponsors and round sponsors. Over the years the Trivia Night competitions have raised thousands of dollars to support the operational expenses of the synagogue.
Teams — or individuals wanting to join a team for Saturday’s Trivia Night — should call Millie Glinsky at (724) 388-5151 or Marcy Wilson at (724) 388-6504.
Pfeffer said that as soon as one Trivia Night ends, he starts working on next year’s event, and is always on the lookout for topics and issues that will make interesting and challenging question categories for next year.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

ADDRESS

Sunday, December 6, 2015

TRIVIA AT TEMPLE

HAPPY HANUKKAH FROM TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL