Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-16 at 19:01

HEADLINES
Cal Poly lifts antisemitism grade to C
Israel poised to host Eurovision 2027
Jerusalem Day draws North American Olim

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the Anti-Defamation League has updated Cal Poly’s grade on its annual antisemitism report card from an F to a C after campus steps to improve the climate for Jewish students were cited. The ADL has published the report card since 2024, evaluating colleges and universities based on antisemitic incidents and attitudes reported on campus, with the latest cycle reflecting incidents after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Cal Poly originally received a failing grade in 2025, was raised to a D, and this year the grade briefly remained at D before being raised to a C in mid-April. The improvement came on April 13 after the university took steps to bolster the campus climate for Jewish students, according to ADL regional director Joshua Burt via a representative to The Tribune. Opinions about the severity of antisemitism at Cal Poly are mixed, with several Jewish students and campus community members saying the score remains too low and does not reflect their experiences.

In Uplifting News, the dialogue around Israel’s cultural moment includes word that Eurovision 2027 could be hosted in Israel, with reporting noting questions about whether the contest will indeed take place there. The country is described as leading in the competition, with 343 points currently and 225 of those points coming from the audience. In Eurovision 2026, Noam Betan, Michal, and Israel received 220 points from audience votes. A separate feature highlights that Jerusalem Day is underscoring Jerusalem’s ongoing appeal to North American immigrants, with new Nefesh B’Nefesh figures showing the city continues to attract Olim, including a profile of Golda Katz, 25, from Monsey, New York. Katz describes a nontraditional path—growing up in an ultra-Orthodox setting, later engaging with public schools, studying in Taiwan, and participating in progressive circles in the United States—before her thinking shifted after a visit to Israel following October 7. She recalls meeting another young woman in Jerusalem who told her, “Goldie, you need to make Aliyah. You will find your people here,” a moment that stayed with her as she considered making Jerusalem her home.

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
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-896275
https://t.me/newssil/201739
https://t.me/newssil/201738
https://t.me/newssil/201737
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1322181
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896378