| | Good Friday morning, and Chag Purim Sameach to those celebrating this weekend. In today’s Daily Kickoff , we look at the new Pew report on American attitudes toward the Israel-Hamas war, and report on Israeli concerns about the potential domino effect of Canada’s recently announced arms sale ban. Also in today’s Daily Kickoff : Gen. Michael Kurilla, David Frum and UF head coach Todd Golden. For less-distracted reading over the weekend, browse this week’s edition of The Weekly Print, a curated print-friendly PDF featuring a selection of recent Jewish Insider, eJewishPhilanthropy and The Circuit stories, including: I srael losing the hasbara battle because of a broken public relations playbook, experts say; Israeli and Jewish artists face threats, boycotts at U.S. shows; Meet Yael Lempert, the Jewish-American ambassador in Amman. Print the latest edition here. Secretary of State Tony Blinken landed in Israel this morning, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Defense Ministry’s headquarters in Tel Aviv before sitting down this afternoon with Israel’s war cabinet. Blinken has spent the last several days in the region amid talks aimed at securing a temporary cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages. The secretary’s trip to Israel comes amid ongoing disagreements between the Biden administration and the Israeli government over a looming operation in Rafah, and days before Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is set to travel to Washington to discuss Israel’s plans with top U.S. officials. In Cairo yesterday, Blinken said that a large-scale Israeli operation in Rafah is “unnecessary” to defeat Hamas and would be a “mistake.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) suggested yesterday that he’s open to welcoming Netanyahu to address a full meeting of the House and Senate, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) confirmed his plans to issue such an invitation, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports. Schumer said in a statement, “Israel has no stronger ally than the United States and our relationship transcends any one president or any one Prime Minister. I will always welcome the opportunity for the Prime Minister of Israel to speak to Congress in a bipartisan way,” although a spokesperson said that Johnson hadn’t discussed the subject with Schumer as of Thursday morning. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he hasn’t been consulted either. With a growing number of Democrats pinning blame on Netanyahu for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and rejecting his handling of the war against Hamas, the prospect of a speech by the Israeli prime minister to Congress could be politically explosive, hearkening back to Netanyahu’s 2015 address to a joint session of Congress, when the prime minister condemned the nuclear talks with Iran that would months later result in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. A significant number of progressive Democrats would likely boycott the speech. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), a vocal supporter of Israel who attended Netanyahu’s 2015 address, told Politico yesterday, “I would hope he would not come. I think it would not be helpful for Israel's interests.” But Schumer’s openness to a speech would seem to mark a political victory for Netanyahu, amid the ongoing fallout from Schumer’s speech calling for new elections in Israel and Netanyahu’s ouster. Notably, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who’s been critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, distanced himself from Schumer’s call for new leadership in Israel, and many Senate Democrats with competitive races in November have declined to weigh in. Read more here. While the debate over Israel has overtaken the highest offices in Washington, a new Pew poll indicates that, despite months of headlines and ongoing debates on social media, many Americans don’t feel they have enough knowledge about the Israel-Hamas war to weigh in. A plurality of respondents (43%) said they are not following the war too closely, or at all. That percentage increases when looking only at young Americans — 58% of respondents between the ages of 18-29 said that they are not following the war, or if they are, in a very limited fashion. Nonetheless, a majority of those polled (58%) said Israel’s reasons for fighting the terror group are valid. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents said that the way that Hamas carried out the Oct. 7 terror attacks was completely unacceptable. And while 46% of young adults aged 18-29 think that Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 attacks is unacceptable, a majority of the same demographic (58%) think that the way Hamas carried out the attacks was unacceptable. Notably, there is no clear consensus among respondents as to the role the U.S. should play in the war. Across age demographics, a plurality of those surveyed said they were not sure if the Biden administration is striking the right balance in the war, though a majority (55%) say the U.S. should take some role in diplomatic efforts to end the war. Spread the word! Invite your friends to sign up.👇 Share with a friend | uphill bill Congress to cut security grant funding, ban UNRWA funds and add Palestinian aid restrictions  ANNA MONEYMAKER/GETTY IMAGES The final package of U.S. government funding bills for the balance of the 2024 fiscal year is set to cut funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program by $30.5 million, despite skyrocketing incidents of antisemitism. It also bars funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and imposes a raft of new restrictions and oversight provisions on other U.S. aid to Gaza, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports.
NSGP cut: The NSGP funding cut will further restrict the already under-resourced program, which provides grants for religious institutions and nonprofits to improve their security. In 2023, when $305 million in funding was available, just 42% of NSGP requests were fulfilled, down from the previous year; application volume is likely to increase this year. In the Department of Homeland Security subsection of the bill, which funds the NSGP, lawmakers provided additional funding for immigration enforcement, but cut many (although not all) DHS grant programs. DHS funding remained a contentious issue until the final days of negotiations.
UNRWA ban: UNRWA funding was a particular sticking point in the final stages of negotiations, as some key Democrats fought to preserve funding for the U.N. agency, arguing that it’s the only body currently capable of effectively supporting Palestinians throughout the region. But Republicans, who called UNRWA funding a nonstarter, ultimately won out.
Palestinian aid: The bill provides $175 million in non-UNRWA aid to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, a significant cut from 2023. It introduces new oversight provisions for aid to Gaza similar to those included in the Senate-passed supplemental aid bill, requiring new accountability mechanisms to prevent the diversion of aid, cooperation with Israel, regular reporting to Congress, specific notifications to Congress if aid is diverted and funding for third-party monitoring.
Read the full story here. pretoria partnership House Foreign Affairs Committee approves bill seeking review of U.S.-South Africa relationship  PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday approved a bill calling for a re-assessment of the U.S. relationship with South Africa in light of the Pretoria’s growing relationships with Iran, Russia and China and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports.
The vote: The bill passed by a 36-13 vote, with 10 Democrats — Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Bill Keating (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Jim Costa (D-CA) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) — voting in support.
In support: During the debate on Wednesday, Rep. John James (R-MI), the lead sponsor, accused South Africa of moving away from its traditional nonaligned stance in foreign policy. “Actions have consequences, and the American people have options,” James added, while emphasizing that the bill would only mandate a review, not any specific changes. “The only way that would be threatening is if you are actually undermining the United States and our partnership.”
Opposition: Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY) said he opposed the legislation, describing South Africa as a critical partner and arguing that the U.S. needs to work to strengthen, not weaken, its relationship with South Africa. “The United States can offer positive choices to Africans as they determine their own future,” Meeks said. “We don't get to impose our ideas, but we should make a compelling case for why it makes sense to partner with the United States and work together to achieve shared interests.”
Read the full story here. tehran talk Bipartisan group of lawmakers calls on administration to block Iranian leaders from U.N. meetings in U.S.  AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES A bipartisan group of 27 House lawmakers wrote to the Biden administration on Thursday calling on the Department of State to block any Iranian government officials from entering the U.S. for meetings of the United Nations, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports.
Past precedent: “Given President [Ebrahim] Raisi and his regime’s longstanding and egregious misconduct, we strongly urge you to deny all entry visas to the United States for President Raisi and any government officials or organizations connected to the regime,” the letter reads, noting instances in 2014 and 2020 in which Iranian diplomats were denied visas to enter the U.S.
Why it matters: Republicans have repeatedly pushed the administration to take such a step, but the support of seven Democrats for this letter is notable and reflects a desire among some Democratic moderates for a more aggressive approach toward the regime in Tehran.
Who signed: Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) led the letter. Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Don Davis (D-NC), Darren Soto (D-FL), Angie Craig (D-MN) and Mary Peltola (D-AK) joined the letter. Republican Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Ryan Zinke (R-WY), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Aaron Beam (R-FL), David Rouzer (R-GA), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Keith Self (R-TX), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Rudy Yakym (R-IN) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and resident commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) also signed.
Read the full story here. pier project Gen. Kurilla offers details on plan for Gaza aid pier  JABIN BOTSFORD/THE WASHINGTON POST VIA GETTY IMAGES Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East on Thursday revealed new details of the Biden administration’s plan to construct a humanitarian pier in Gaza, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports. Kurilla said, testifying to the House Armed Services Committee, that U.S. troops would not set foot inside the enclave but revealed that U.S. personnel and ships would ferry supplies to the Gaza shore.
How it works: He explained that the construction process will involve building both a floating pier at sea and a pier secured to the beach in Gaza. Aid would be offloaded from ships at the floating pier, then transferred by U.S. Army boats from there to the shore in Gaza. But he said that U.S. troops will never set foot inside Gaza and said that protecting U.S. personnel is a “top priority.”
On the ground: Top military personnel are currently in the region working with partner countries to determine the details of how U.S. forces will be protected, the logistics of building the pier on the shore in Gaza and how humanitarian aid will be distributed after it is offloaded, Kurilla told lawmakers. He declined to provide further details in an unclassified setting. He said that the U.S. does not plan to rely on Israel to distribute aid, either from the port or through land crossings.
Administration’s positions: Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, affirmed that Israel is holding itself to a high standard of conduct in Gaza and avoiding civilian harm, adding that she is “not aware of any evidence that they’re deliberately targeting civilians.” Wallander also affirmed that the administration “fully supports Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas’ ability to conduct these operations” like Oct. 7.
Read the full story here. O CANADA Israel concerned that other countries will follow Canada's lead on arms sale ban  ANDRIY ZHYHAYLO/OBOZREVATEL/GLOBAL IMAGES UKRAINE VIA GETTY IMAGES Concern is rising in Jerusalem following Ottawa’s announcement of a ban on military exports from Canada to Israel, despite its minimal direct impact on Israel’s ability to defend itself, stoking fears that the decision sets a precedent that more significant trading partners could follow, Jewish Insider’s Lahav Harkov reports.
FM remarks: Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told The Toronto Star on Tuesday that Ottawa will ban future arms exports to Israel, even though a motion to that effect passed by the Canadian legislature earlier in the week was not binding. According to the motion, Canada would "cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with Canada's arms export regime and increase efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas." Though the motion only mentions arms, Joly’s office reportedly said the ban will include all military goods and technology.
Setting a precedent: The impact of the ban on Israel's defense is likely "zero to negative," former Canadian Ambassador to Israel Vivian Bercovici told JI. "To my knowledge, there's no there there. Canada doesn’t even have basic equipment for our own army," she said. "We don't produce much, if anything, in the way of military arms." According to Bercovici, "the more important aspect of this diplomatic frisson isn't Canada actually providing anything meaningful in terms of military materiel, but is much more about the precedent. That becomes a different analysis in terms of what diplomatic precedent this sets and Canada's influence on the world stage."
Domino effect?: Dan Illouz, a member of Knesset from Likud who was born and grew up in Montreal, similarly told JI that "the real damage, when it comes to Israel's defense, is not only from Canada itself...it's that Canada is the first G7 country to actually take this step.” Other Western countries have taken steps towards halting military exports to Israel. Spain's foreign minister announced an embargo on arms sales to Israel, and Belgium said it suspended gunpowder exports to Israel. In February, a Dutch court ordered the government to halt the export of F-35 parts to Israel, stating that there is a "clear risk" that they will be used "in serious violations of international humanitarian law." The government, however, said it would appeal the ruling.
Read the full story here. | Today in SAPIR, the Friends & Foes issue continues with Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the persistent threat of Islamism and Ani Wilcenski on why many Jewish influencers aren’t standing with Israel.
The Dangers of Islamism: Public intellectual Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells the story of her upbringing in an Islamist clan in Somalia, where “we knew no Jews, but to call someone a Jew was so deep an insult that it sometimes led to murder. My female friends and I would sit in the mosque and pray that Allah would destroy the Jews.” She argues that confidence and pride in Enlightenment values are necessary to prevent their replacement with the warped moral norms of her childhood. Read her story here.
Social Media’s Israel Problem: Off the heels of the passage of a bill in the House of Representatives that would ban TikTok if it refuses to comply with regulations, Tablet audience editor Ani Wilcenski takes a cold, hard look at how Hamas has found so much support on social media — and why many Jewish influencers have stayed silent. But she also identifies friends who have been unabashed in their support for the Jewish state and offers suggestions for how the community can help amplify their message. Read more here.
To inquire about placing premium ads in the Daily Kickoff, email our team. | | | Modern-Day Shushan: In The Wall Street Journal, Rabbi Stu Halpern considers how the story of Purim resonates in a post-Oct. 7 world. “Yet Purim’s story reminds its readers that though what the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks called the ‘dignity of difference’ might be intolerable for some, pride in Jewish particularism serves as the wellspring of salvation. Mordecai and his cousin Esther, the biblical tale’s heroes, emerge from an assimilated milieu to stand proudly in defense of their people. Jews take up arms to ensure that their bloodthirsty foes’ plans are upended — striking ‘their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them.’ Jewish self-defense, then and now, can serve as a means of inspiring those who see morally kindred spirits in the Jewish people. The biblical story recounts how, after Haman’s defeat, many across the ancient world came to admire the Jewish people. So may it be once Hamas falls in our time.” [WSJ]
Miranda’s Memory: The Atlantic’s David Frum reflects on the unexpected death last month of his daughter Miranda. “For me, the thought of my own death has never been a distressing subject. We live, we love, we yield the stage to our children. I hoped that when the time arrived, I would have the chance for farewells. If that wish were granted, I could with total content ride the train to my final destination. It never occurred to me that one of my children might board the train first, pulling away as her parents wept on the platform.” [TheAtlantic]
EV Oh No: In The Times of Israel, Michael Granoff ponders the security implications of the increasing popularity of Chinese-made electric vehicles in Israel. “As an EV evangelist for nearly 20 years, and as the first investor in the ill-fated Israeli EV network company Better Place, I should find this to be great news. For Israel it means less oil imports, higher air quality and progress toward obligations under carbon emission treaties. But it is important to understand that these vehicles are not just cars – they are highly sophisticated electronic devices. In many ways, they share more DNA with your smartphone than with traditional cars. They are chock full of microphones, cameras, and other sensors gathering and collecting images and data of all sorts.Teslas send this data back to servers in California. But Chinese EVs send their data to China-based data farms. And these vehicles can be seen everywhere – from the highways of Tel Aviv to the most sensitive military installations. When I visited my daughter on her base, I was asked to surrender my smartphone. But I was permitted to drive my car right in. And I parked next to a Chinese Geely Geometry.” [TOI]
Radical Right: In the Financial Times, Bita Ghaffari spotlights the rise of the Iranian “super-revolutionaries” — a group of young activists on the radical right who rail against the Islamic republic’s older ruling elite. “The newcomers, who have set themselves apart from revolutionary old-timers they disparagingly call ‘patriarchs,’ have marked their territory by issuing sharp criticisms of senior regime figures whom they accuse of corruption and nepotism. The radical-right cohort includes television host Amir-Hossein Sabeti, a political neophyte elected to parliament in this month’s low-turnout election. The 35-year-old grew up well after the 1979 revolution and the bitter war with Iraq that followed. ‘Super-revolutionaries are not many in number, but their voices are being heard more and more,’ Mohammad Sadegh Javadi-Hesar, a reformist politician, told the Financial Times.” [FT] | Be featured: Email us to inform the JI readership of your upcoming event, job opening, or other communication. | UNSC Docket: The U.N. Security Council is slated to vote on a U.S.-drafted measure calling for an immediate cease-fire as well as an agreement to free the remaining 134 hostages in Gaza.
Primary Pass: Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) announced he will not run in New Jersey’s Democratic Senate primary in June, but said he may mount an independent bid for the seat later this year.
Newsom’s Note: California Gov. Gavin Newsom published an open letter addressed to the state’s “Muslim, Palestinian American, and Arab American Communities,” backing President Joe Biden’s “call for an immediate ceasefire as part of a deal to secure desperately needed relief for Gazan civilians and the release of hostages” and “unequivocally” condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks.
On the Hill: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that he opposes Adeel Mangi’s nomination to serve on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. Barring unexpected Republican support, that likely means Mangi, who Republicans have accused of antisemitism and anti-Israel bias, cannot be confirmed.
Freedom Fight: The family of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli Princeton doctoral student who was kidnapped last year by an Iran-backed Iraqi militia group, is calling on the Biden administration to designate Iraq as a state sponsor of terror over Baghdad’s failure to work toward Tsurkov’s release.
Punitive Proposal: A Wall Street Journal executive called on the U.S. to consider punishments for authoritarian nations that wrongfully imprison or detain journalists.
Pondering Platforms: In National Affairs, Tevi Troy chronicles the history of party platforms.
Peltz Push: Institutional Shareholder Services recommended that Disney approve Nelson Peltz to sit on its board, giving the activist investor a boost in his proxy fight against the company.
Kicks for a Cause: Todd Golden, the head coach of the University of Florida men’s basketball team, is expected to wear sneakers emblazoned with the Star of David and Magen David Adom’s logo at tonight’s game against Colorado.
What it Means: In The Wall Street Journal, Rabbi Shai Held pens an essay about the concept of lovingkindness in Judaism.
Film Fracas: A Jewish federation in Hamilton, Canada, was forced to postpone its annual film festival after the hosting theater pulled its rental agreement over “numerous security and safety related emails, phone calls, and social media messages.”
Across the Pond: The Standard spotlights The Fire Place, Europe’s only kosher dining club.
Manchester Malpractice: Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is investigating allegations that nurses discriminated against a young Jewish patient, who was reportedly forced to receive a blood transfusion while lying on the floor.
On the Border: The Wall Street Journal’s Elliot Kaufman files a dispatch from Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
Turkey Trouble: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that he summoned the Turkish deputy ambassador to Israel for a “serious reprimand” after a threat by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to send Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to Allah to take care of him, make him miserable and curse him.”
Making Waves: The Houthis told Moscow and Beijing that Russian and Chinese vessels will be allowed to transit through the Gulf of Aden without issue, as the Iran-backed militia group continues its attacks on other boats in the region.
Remembering: Harvey Schulweis, the longtime chairman of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, died on Monday. Amnon Weinstein, whose NGO Violins of Hope restores Holocaust-era violins, died at 84. |  GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images Israelis at the Kotel in Jerusalem blow shofars during a mass prayer — part of a global recitation of the Shema prayer — calling for the release of the Israeli hostages who have been held in Gaza since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks. |  ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images Designer of men's and women's footwear, clothing and accessories, Kenneth D. Cole turns 70 on Saturday...
FRIDAY: Professor emeritus of education and humanities at the University of Virginia, E.D. Hirsch turns 96... Captain Kirk of “Star Trek” fame, William Shatner turns 93... Born in Iran, twice elected as mayor of Beverly Hills, he is a past president of Sinai Temple, Jamshid "Jimmy" Delshad turns 84... Dentist who practiced in Norwalk, Conn., Murray Bruckel, DDS... Academy Award-winning screenwriter, his work includes "Forrest Gump" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Eric Roth turns 79... Israeli viola player and teacher, Rivka Golani turns 78... Senior principal of the law firm of Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber, Isaac M. Neuberger turns 77... One of the principal anchors for CNN, Wolf Blitzer turns 76... Aviation and aerospace professional, Mike Orkin... Founder and executive director at WomenStrong International, Susan Morton Blaustein turns 71... Mayor of the 16th arrondissement of Paris until 2023, now a member of the upper house of the French Parliament, Francis Szpiner turns 70... Hedge fund manager and owner of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, Jeffrey N. Vinik turns 65... Popular Orthodox Jewish singer, his stage name is Avraham Fried, Avraham Shabsi Friedman turns 65... Director of marketing and communications at Dorot, Andrea Glick... Former corporate secretary, EVP and general counsel at Hertz Corporation until 2014, J. Jeffrey Zimmerman...
Retired Israeli basketball player, she is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most points (136) ever scored in a women's professional game, Anat Draigor turns 64... Author and defense correspondent, Arieh O'Sullivan turns 63... Journalist and author, Debra Nussbaum Cohen... Head of real estate for Mansueto Office, Ari Glass... Member of the U.K. Parliament for the British Conservative Party, Robert Halfon turns 55... Managing director of Mercury Public Affairs, Jonathan Greenspun... SVP at HCA Healthcare, Jeff E. Cohen... Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Judge Neomi Rao turns 51... Pizza reviewer and founder of Barstool Sports, David Portnoy turns 47... Visuals editor at The City and adjunct professor at CUNY, Ben Fractenberg... VP of communications and public policy at Antora Energy, Adam Perecman Frankel... Founder and CEO of beauty and cosmetic firms Into The Gloss and Glossier, Emily Weiss... Creator of the Yehi Ohr program at Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Zisa Levin... Retired MLB first baseman after seven seasons, he starred for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Isaac Benjamin "Ike" Davis turns 37... Communications director for Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Sarah Alice Frank Feldman... Energy policy and climate change reporter for Politico, Joshua Adam Siegel... Director of the Dan David Prize, Charlotte Hallé... Director of communications at the U.K.'s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, James Sorene... Beatrice Stein...
SATURDAY: Actor, director and producer, Mark Rydell turns 95... Former NFL referee for 23 seasons, he is the only NFL head referee to officiate four Super Bowl games, Jerry Markbreit turns 89... Philanthropist, together with her husband, Theodore, she pledged $25 million to BBYO in 2019, Harriette Perlman turns 84... Mandolinist and composer of acoustic, instrumental, bluegrass and newgrass music, David Grisman turns 79... Writer and producer of television series, creator of "Deadwood" and co-creator of "NYPD Blue," David Milch turns 79... Tel Aviv native, she is a professor of music at the Juilliard School since 1993, Yoheved "Veda" Kaplinsky turns 77... Los Angeles-based psychologist and author, her first book is The Blessings of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children, Wendy Mogel turns 73... Former mayor of Austin, Texas, Stephen Ira Adler turns 68... Former director of business development at Fannie Mae, Beth Millstein... Investor, author, financial commentator and radio personality, Peter Schiff turns 61... Russian-American oil businessman, Eugene Shvidler turns 60...
Writer and creator of 2018's television series "Liberty Crossing," Daniel Radosh turns 55... Managing partner of D.C.-based Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner, Jonathan Missner turns 55... French actress who has appeared in 40 films, her Holocaust survivor grandparents changed their name from Goldreich, Judith Godrèche turns 52... Client partner at Meta/Facebook, Scott Shapiro... Member of the Maryland General Assembly since 2011, Craig Zucker turns 49... Israeli actress, comedian and television host, Adi Ashkenazi turns 49... Three-time Grammy Award winning record producer, audio engineer and songwriter, Ariel Rechtshaid turns 45... Member of the rabbinics faculty at the Academy for Jewish Religion California, Yehuda Martin Hausman... Staff reporter for The New York Times, Sarah Maslin Nir... Israeli singer-songwriter, actress and musician, she performs in Hebrew, French and Arabic, Riff Cohen turns 40... Chief of staff for the Commonwealth's Attorney in Fairfax County, Va., Benjamin Shnider... Former tennis player and then tennis coach at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Julia Cohen turns 35... Former member of the National Israeli Rhythmic Gymnastics Team, Moran Buzovski turns 32... Television and film actress, Victoria Pedretti turns 29...
SUNDAY: Beverly Hills-based estate planning attorney, Ronald M. Kabrins turns 86... Board member of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Rochelle "Ronnie" Footlick... Member of the House of Lords and star of the U.K.’s version of “The Apprentice,” he was the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, Baron Alan Sugar turns 77... Former CEO of Microsoft, he is the owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer turns 68... Attorney in Tarzana, Calif., Paul Marshall Leven... AIPAC and Jewish community activist in Austin, Deborah E. Rudy... Owner of Joslynda Capital, Michael Weiss... Veteran of four NASA space shuttle missions, he had a mezuzah on his bunk in the space shuttle, Scott Jay "Doc" Horowitz turns 67... Professor of art history at Hofstra University and widely published poet, Martha Hollander turns 65... Professional wrestler under a series of ring names including "The Star of David," his wrestling career spanned from 1979 until 2000, Barry Horowitz turns 64... President of American Jewish University, Jeffrey Herbst turns 63... CEO of The Female Quotient, Shelley Zalis... Official at NYC's 92nd Street Y, Laura Spitzer... Actor who is best known for his roles on the Fox medical drama series "House" and the USA Network's science fiction drama "Colony," Peter Jacobson turns 59... Senior director of external relations for the U.S. division of Israeli tech firm ThriveDX, Fred Menachem... Senior correspondent for Jewish Insider, Ruth Marks Eglash... Director and senior tax counsel at Federal Policy Group, Aharon Friedman... Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel - West Side Jewish Center on 34th Street in Manhattan, Jason Herman turns 47... Actor, Amir Arison turns 46... Director of marketing at Window Nation, Eric Goldscher... Executive editor at Bloomberg Green, Aaron Rutkoff... Famed NYC photographer now working for the MTA, Marc A. Hermann turns 42... Pitching coach at San Jacinto College, he pitched for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and in the 2020 Olympics, Josh Zeid turns 37... Speechwriter for State Department officials, Joshua D. Cohen... Venezuelan-born celebrity chef, Deborah Benaim turns 36... Program director at The Jewish Woman Entrepreneur, Jenna Nelson Beltser... Three-time all-star hockey player, now with PWHL Boston of the Professional Women's Hockey League, Kaleigh Fratkin turns 32... COO at Bnai Zion Media, Justin B. Hayet... Competitive pair skater for Israel at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, now a software development engineer for Amazon Web Services, Andrea "Anya" Davidovich turns 27... | | | | | |
