AGP Executive Report

Election Day: Israelis voted in record numbers in the first national election since the October 7 attacks. Turnout reached 44.9% by 2 p.m., the highest at that point since records began in the 1970s. Neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor challenger Gadi Eisenkot is expected to win a clear majority, leaving coalition talks ahead. Eurovision: The Netherlands reversed course and will skip the 2027 contest, citing sensitivities around Israel’s participation. The broadcaster had previously signaled it would return. Music & Coexistence: The Arab-Jewish ensemble Shesh Besh brought Jewish and Arab songs together in performances and school workshops, with musicians saying the shared music can help bridge communities.

Election Day: More than 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote in a close, high-stakes election shaped by the October 7 attacks, years of war and deep social divisions. Israelis living abroad have flown home to cast ballots, while neither major bloc is assured of a parliamentary majority. Arts and Identity: Gal Gadot received an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University, calling Israel her home and urging citizens to make a difference at the polls. Israeli cinema professionals also voiced hopes and fears ahead of the vote. Jewish Heritage: Israel’s National Library is set to showcase medieval and Renaissance Hebrew manuscripts, bringing centuries of Jewish history into focus.

Art & Design: Israeli painter Marc Provisor will show work alongside international artists at Miami Art Week in December, in an exhibition exploring color, craft and emotion. Israel at the Ballot Box: Voters head to the polls Tuesday in a tight race between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot. Arab turnout could help decide who forms the next government, while immigrants are divided over leadership, security and Israel’s ties with the US. Jewish Heritage: Artist Barbara Hines brings biblical stories to canvas after discovering her Jewish roots, with Jerusalem among the places inspiring her work. Books & History: Israel’s National Library plans to showcase medieval and Renaissance Hebrew manuscripts.

Election & Society: Israelis vote Tuesday in a closely contested election shaped by the October 7 security failures, the cost of living and the debate over ultra-Orthodox military service. Netanyahu faces former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, with polls pointing to a possible deadlock. Arts & Memory: Israeli artist Yigal Ozeri is portraying artists murdered on October 7, bringing their faces and work into a new Tel Aviv exhibition. Film & Protest: The documentary Rising: Voices of Protest and Hope follows five Israelis through the judicial overhaul protests and the grief that followed October 7. Music: Jerusalem’s 27th International Oud Festival is underway, celebrating the instrument’s traditions across cultures.

Community: The Michael Levin Base is giving lone soldiers and national-service volunteers a place to find practical help, emotional support and a sense of home. Israel’s Election: Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, voters face competing concerns including security, the ultra-Orthodox draft and accountability for October 7. Arts: At the Jerusalem Biennale, Ariane Littman’s Sanguine Fields brings together two bereaved mothers and the Sea of Galilee, reflecting on grief and the hope of peace. Television: Israeli creator Hagai Levi’s Etty, inspired by the diaries of Dutch Jewish writer Etty Hillesum, won best international series at Barcelona’s Serielizados awards. Faith & Travel: Christian pilgrims have set out from Jaffa on a five-day journey to Jerusalem, retracing a historic route as visitors begin returning to Israel.

Hebron’s daily life: Israeli forces said they had displaced around 2,000 Palestinians during an operation after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a West Bank attack. Schools were suspended, universities moved classes online and the city was sealed off. Public reckoning: Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to demand an inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks, with opposition leaders joining families of victims and survivors. Jewish stories on screen: “Nobody Wants This” creator Erin Foster says she has more to tell about the romance between an agnostic podcaster and a rabbi, if Netflix renews the series for a fourth season. Faith and heritage: Maimonides remains a touchstone in today’s debate over religious study and military service, with opposing camps drawing on different parts of his teachings. A wedding across cultures: Israeli couple Gil Hason and Niv Yohanok chose a Shinto shrine in Japan for their Hebrew-language ceremony, seeking a celebration that better reflected their relationship. Shabbat in Jerusalem: A café’s decision to open on Saturdays sparked protests and counter-protests before its owners chose to close for the Sabbath.

Social Cohesion: Bereaved families are urging Israelis to treat unity as a national responsibility. Moshe Shapiro, whose son Aner was killed on October 7, points to the wildflower-protection campaign as a model for making respect across differences part of everyday life. Music & Heritage: Jerusalem’s 27th International Oud Festival runs November 5–12, bringing Arabic music to audiences across generations and backgrounds. The lineup pairs Israeli musician Dudu Tassa with Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. Life in Israel: A Tel Aviv University economist warns that record numbers of Israelis have left in recent years, and next week’s election could accelerate the trend. Religious Heritage: The head of St. Catherine’s Monastery says a proposed agreement with Egypt could help safeguard the historic Sinai community and its rights.

Olive Harvest: A cherished Palestinian tradition is unfolding amid reports of attacks on farmers and the detention of international volunteers accompanying them. The violence is adding tension as Israel prepares for Tuesday’s election. Election Mood: Final polls put Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc, but neither side appears close to a majority without Arab parties’ support. Young Jewish voters are also leaning more right than older voters, while Arab citizens face a contested choice over participation. Culture and Storytelling: Palestinian photographers Mohamed Badame and Haya Khoury say their Berlin exhibition aims to give Palestinians more control over how their lives are pictured and told. Shared Airwaves: In Nazareth, Arabic-language Nas Radio’s newsroom brings together Muslim, Christian and Druze journalists to cover the varied lives of northern Israel’s Arab communities.

Yiddish Revival: Singer and actor Daniella Rabbani’s debut album, Klezmerette, gives classics like “Dona Dona” fresh arrangements, part of her long-running mission to bring Yiddish music to new listeners. Jewish Food Heritage: In Pune, Bene Israel families keep traditions alive through home-cooked dishes such as coconut-rich Malida, blending Jewish customs with Konkani influences. Israeli Design: Israeli designer Arik Weiss has contributed to Marvel’s upcoming Spider-Noir series.

Jewish Stories on Screen: As Nobody Wants This returns for season three, creator Erin Foster says the show will remain a “love letter to Judaism,” while accepting that star Adam Brody has a different view on Israel and Palestine. Rabbinic Education: American Jewish University has reopened admissions to its Ziegler School for fall 2027 after a yearlong review, aiming to rethink how it prepares rabbis for community leadership. Living Heritage: India’s Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld heritage protections for Jabalpur’s century-old Jewish cemetery, preserving a site tied to a community now reduced to just a few members. Israeli Culture: Israeli designer Arik Weiss is contributing to Marvel’s Spider-Noir, while a new guide invites visitors to explore the country’s wineries. Community Legacy: Holocaust survivor and longtime Jewish educator Rina Frankel, who devoted her life to teaching and community service, has died at 92.

Election & Society: As Israelis prepare to vote on Oct. 27, a new photo essay looks inside an ultra-Orthodox school as the draft dispute looms. Arab citizens may also help decide the outcome. Rabin’s Legacy: At a ceremony marking 31 years since Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, President Isaac Herzog warned that tolerance of political violence threatens Israel’s democracy. Jerusalem’s Christian Communities: A religious-freedom watchdog counted 106 acts of harassment against Christians in the city from July to September, most involving spitting. Wildlife: About 10,600 cranes have arrived at Hula Lake Park for their autumn migration, alongside pelicans, flamingos and birds of prey. Israeli Design: Designer Arik Weiss discussed his contribution to Marvel’s upcoming “Spider-Noir” series.

Israeli Arts: Designer Arik Weiss won a Primetime Emmy for the opening titles of Spider-Noir and is considering a move to Los Angeles after his Hollywood breakthrough. Food & Tradition: Mutra, the world’s first kosher restaurant to earn a Michelin star, is hosting Israeli chef Assaf Granit for a dinner celebrating Jewish culinary roots. War’s Aftermath: Tel Aviv resident Regine Shoshan is still rebuilding her life seven months after an Iranian missile destroyed her home, along with years of creative work and personal belongings. Jewish Heritage: A look at Azerbaijan’s diverse Jewish communities traces their history through Baku’s oil boom, Soviet repression and the survival of distinct traditions. Cross-Cultural Scholarship: Jerusalem-based researcher Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar’s study of ultra-Orthodox Jewish and Amish communities grew into a lasting connection with Amish women in Pennsylvania.

Olive Harvest: Israeli forces detained about 90 volunteers, including New York congressional nominee Brad Lander, as they accompanied Palestinian farmers harvesting olives near Bethlehem. Lander was released with a warning; the harvest is a vital source of income and a longstanding tradition. Music & Identity: Singer IAMDDB says an Israeli government AI video used a lookalike without her consent. The clip was later deleted. Sports & Wellness: A new Wingate Institute branch at Haifa’s Sammy Ofer Stadium will offer coaching courses alongside yoga, Pilates, hip-hop and sports therapy. Music in the North: Kfar Blum’s Voice of Music Festival is set to offer five days of musical discovery.

Israeli Theater: Prizewinning playwright Noa Shechter brought her Holocaust drama Lota in the Fog to Brandeis, exploring trauma through the bond between a Polish camp worker and a Jewish child. Startup Life: Two 23-year-old friends from Omer put university plans on hold to build Pro Cream, a protein ice cream brand now stocked in more than 1,000 Israeli stores. Education: Israel’s education minister has ordered a school-testing overhaul following poor PISA results. Arts & Community: Israel’s LGBT film festival marks its 21st year with award-winning films, dramas and classics. An Israeli hospital has also introduced an AI system to help children communicate without speaking.

Aliyah: Israel is accelerating immigration procedures for French Jews amid unrest and rising insecurity. About 4,000 have moved from France since January, the highest number since 2015. Education: Education Minister Yoav Kisch has ordered a sweeping overhaul of national school testing, adopting recommendations from a review after poor PISA results and a dispute over assessments. Film & Memory: Director Boaz Dvir’s new film, To Kill a Nazi, tells the story of French Jewish Nazi hunter Michel Cojot, who helped fellow hostages during the Entebbe crisis; a recent thwarted hijacking of a flight to Israel gave the film’s story fresh resonance. Tel Aviv Arts: Zemack Gallery is presenting Yigal Ozeri’s “American Dream” show, while the Eretz Israel Museum plans a “MUZA on the Line” event at Allenby light-rail station. Stage & Screen: Israel’s LGBT film festival marks its 21st anniversary with award winners, dramas and classics.

Tel Aviv Art: Israeli-born painter Yigal Ozeri’s “Road Trip” opens at Zemack Gallery on Oct. 22, using photorealistic highways and vintage cars to explore migration and the American Dream. From Oct. 29, MUZA brings works from Tel Aviv’s craft and design biennales to Allenby light-rail station, turning a daily commute into a public gallery. Film & Ideas: Israeli documentary “NAZA,” by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won a special jury prize at Venice. It features interviews with former military and intelligence personnel on AI-assisted targeting in Gaza. Music & Heritage: Kfar Blum’s Voice of Music Festival offers five days of musical discovery in the north, while Jerusalem’s Old City invites visitors to explore its architecture on Open Houses tours. Tel Aviv’s LGBT film festival marks its 21st year with award-winning films, dramas and classics. Jewish Music Abroad: Australian festival SHIR brings its “Unbreakable” concert to Perth for the first time in November, led by singer Deborah Conway.