Teen Memorizes 408 Pi Digits in Under a Minute

When Ilana Greenberg was stuck at home during the pandemic, she didn't turn to Netflix or social media to pass the time. Instead, she challenged herself to memorize as many digits of pi as possible, and that curiosity eventually landed her in the Guinness Book of World Records.

In August 2025, the 17-year-old recited 408 digits of pi from memory in under a minute. The achievement wasn't about breaking a record at first. It started as a personal challenge to see how far her determination could take her.

Greenberg attended Orthodox Jewish day schools for both middle and high school, first at Brandeis Hebrew Academy and later at North Shore Hebrew Academy. She credits her teachers with nurturing the intellectual curiosity that led to her record. "They really nurtured me and developed my intellectual curiosity," she said.

Her experience challenges common assumptions about religious education, especially for young women interested in STEM fields. Rather than limiting her academic exploration, Greenberg found that her Jewish education enhanced it. "There's so much in Jewish education that can inspire secular pursuits," she explained.

The hours spent memorizing pi digits paid off in more ways than one. The discipline and focus required for such a feat translated directly into her academic success. She's now a student at Yale University, where she's double majoring in physics and mathematics while participating in the university's challenging Directed Studies program.

Greenberg hasn't slowed down at Yale. She's involved in the Yale Scientific Magazine, the Society of Physics Students, and CodeHaven, a computer science outreach organization. She even joined the Rubik's Cube Club and can solve a cube in about 12 seconds.

Though another competitor has since broken her record, Greenberg continues pushing herself. With Pi Day approaching, she's memorizing more digits as a personal challenge. She's also considering tackling Euler's number next.

Why This Inspires

For every young woman who's been told certain fields aren't for her, Greenberg's story offers a powerful counter-narrative. Her Orthodox Jewish education didn't hold her back from pursuing advanced mathematics and physics. It gave her the foundation to excel.

She hopes her accomplishment shows that Jewish women can pursue any intellectual path they choose. "I hope that my experience shows that nothing is off limits for Jewish women," she said, "and that Judaism can enhance and inspire, rather than limit."

The record itself matters less than what it represents: a young woman who followed her curiosity wherever it led, supported by a community that valued both religious and secular learning. Her journey proves that faith and science, tradition and innovation, can not only coexist but strengthen each other.