HEADLINES
- Diaspora Conversion Clash Hits Law of Return
- Saudi Energy Corridor Bypasses Routes Realigns Region
- Tel Aviv Night Run Calls Everyone Home

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This hour’s update surveys a mix of security, policy, and culture as events in Israel, the region, and the diaspora intersect with global headlines.

In Tel Aviv, the annual Night Run returns on October 29, with a 15-kilometer illuminated route that extends to Hostages Square. Organizers say the course expansion serves as a symbolic call to bring everyone home, reflecting the city’s resilience and its role as a hub of sport, culture, and public life even amid security concerns surrounding the broader conflict in the region. The event underscores how communities continue to organize public life and nurture a sense of unity through athletic spectacle.

On social policy, a new Israeli study highlights the foster care system’s impact on outcomes for orphans. Researchers find that children placed with foster families tend to achieve better academic results, a divergence attributed to access to developmental and preventative care within stable caregiving environments. The findings contribute to ongoing policy discussions about how to bolster support for vulnerable youths and how best to structure care systems in times of national stress.

Television and memory also figure in the cultural sphere. Kan 11 unveils a new documentary series tracing the experiences of families who lost relatives on October 7 and are confronting uncertain paths forward. The opening episode, following the events of that day, promises to illuminate personal narratives, the emotional toll of loss, and the long arc of healing in the shadow of a national trauma.

In Europe, a Le Parisien report highlights a rising concern among French Jews: younger members have begun concealing their identities and removing kippahs in response to perceived threats on campuses and in broader society. The piece situates this within a climate of rising antisemitism that has widened gaps of safety and belonging for Jewish students and professionals across academic and public life.

Culture and the arts continue to travel beyond borders. A review of Bruce Springsteen’s Deliver Me from Nowhere looks at the songwriter’s creative process behind Nebraska, praising the performance and storytelling while noting a few biopic missteps for fans seeking a tight cinematic portrait.

A watershed case in the Jewish diaspora and Israeli policy continues to provoke debate. The Times of Israel reports on Isabella Vinci, a prospective immigrant who fought to obtain citizenship under the Law of Return after converting to Judaism abroad and teaching in Israel. Despite a 2005 Supreme Court ruling recognizing overseas conversions, Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority has repeatedly denied her application, citing that her COVID-era online conversion coursework and later community involvement did not meet in-person thresholds required by some regulations. Advocates argue the decision reflects a broader disconnect between Diaspora practices and Israeli bureaucratic criteria, particularly as congregational life shifted online during the pandemic. The case crystallizes tensions between Diaspora religious communities and Israeli authorities, with advocates saying the criteria were designed to prevent abuse of the conversion process rather than penalize sincere conversions. Vinci’s story, which includes support letters from a Netanya host family and a local school, has become a touchstone in debates about how Israel recognizes non-Orthodox approaches to Jewish life in the modern era. Her legal team argues that pandemic-era adaptations should count as legitimate congregational involvement and notes that many converts find meaningful Jewish life beyond synagogue membership. Vinci returned to the United States after losing status and appeals, but she continues to pursue a resolution that could affect others who began their Jewish journeys online or under extraordinary circumstances.

Meanwhile, Israeli policy circles are watching signs of regional realignments. A Maariv report quotes Energy Minister Eli Cohen discussing potential collaboration with Saudi Arabia on an energy corridor that would bypass traditional land and maritime routes. Such a corridor could reshape regional energy logistics and contribute to broader strategic conversations about security, economics, and Israel’s integration with partners in the Gulf. Readers should note that the evolving energy landscape is part of wider regional diplomacy and commercial interests that interact with US policy aims and regional stability calculations.

In the diplomatic arena, a Russian envoy to the Middle East, Dmitriyev, counters recent Western sanctions language by pledging that oil prices and market dynamics will shield Russia from the full impact of sanctions on its oil sector, while signaling that a diplomatic solution to the war may be near. The comments come amid a broader set of discussions about how major powers are managing the conflict and the likelihood of any immediate ceasefire versus longer-term negotiation.

On global headlines, in a separate development, Reuters reports the death of a former Thai queen at age 93, a reminder that world events continue to unfold across continents even as regional conflicts and migration issues dominate headlines in Israel and Europe.

Culturally, the field lost a prominent figure with the passing of Katherine Janus Kahn, the artist behind the “Sammy Spider” series, which introduced generations of Jewish children to familiar holidays through vivid collage. Her work connected Jewish storytelling with visual art in a way that crossed generations and touched readers and families worldwide. Tributes describe her as a pioneer whose artistry brought warmth and color to cultural education for children.

These items together reflect a moment when Israeli security concerns, diaspora questions, regional diplomacy, and cultural life intersect in ways that shape daily life, policy debates, and staff-level and community responses across borders. The Tel Aviv Night Run, social policy research, diaspora conversion debates, energy diplomacy, and cultural legacies all interact with ongoing security challenges and US policy considerations as observers watch how regional actors and global powers recalibrate relationships, commitments, and expectations in the weeks ahead.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
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https://www.timesofisrael.com/highlighting-diaspora-rift-israel-rejects-us-immigration-applicant-over-zoom-era-conversion/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244734
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