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Ed note: There will be no Daily Kickoff next week as we celebrate Passover and, particularly for the editors, the ‘season of our freedom’. You can still follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and we’ll be posting original content on JewishInsider.com, and on the Jewish Journal and Haaretz. Happy Passover to you all! 

TOP TALKER: “Europe Says U.S. Regulations Keeping It From Trade With Iran” by Thomas Erdbrink: “With the completion of the nuclear deal with Iran and the opening of its market, European businesses expected a trade bonanza. But three months after the lifting of many sanctions against Iran, there is growing frustration among European politicians, diplomats and businesspeople over the inability to complete dozens of energy, aviation and construction deals with the Iranians. The main obstacle, the Europeans say, is their ally, and the driving force behind the historic nuclear agreement, the United States.”

“U.S. officials say — and most European experts agree — that it is not only the sanctions that are blocking Iran’s access to the American financial system but also Iran’s failure during its years of isolation to update laws governing money laundering and prohibitions against the financing of terrorism. According to a financial disclosure law, all banks worldwide have to disclose whether their customers are American citizens, to prevent tax evasion. If they fail to do so the banks’ assets can be seized. Several million people hold dual Iranian and American citizenship. Because the Iranian government is reluctant to allow information about its citizens to be shared with the United States, experts say, it is unlikely that it will comply with the act — another complication for European banks.” [NYTimes]

“U.S. to Buy Material Used in Iran Nuclear Program” by Jay Solomon: “The Obama administration is buying 32 tons of heavy water, a key component in atomic-weapons development, from Iran in an effort to safeguard its landmark nuclear agreement with the country, according to senior American officials. The deal, estimated at $8.6 million, is expected to be formally signed by U.S. and Iranian officials Friday morning in Vienna.” [WSJ]

“In Riyadh, Obama Defends Nuclear Deal with Iran” by Jacob Kornbluh: “Even as Iran is calling us the great Satan, we were able to get a deal done that reduces their nuclear stockpiles. That’s not a sign of weakness, that’s a sign of strength.” [JI] 

HEARD LAST NIGHT — Clinton & Sanders Surrogates Debate Foreign Policy: Derek Chollet. a surrogate for the Clinton campaign, and Larry Korb, a surrogate for the Sanders campaign, discussed foreign policy issues including the views of their respective candidates on the Iran deal and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a debate hosted by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland on Thursday. The conversation was moderated by Indira Lakshmanan.

On Iran deal –  Chollet: “[Clinton] has been very clear that she supports the Iran deal… She has a lot of credibility with the region. I think the Iranian government understands she’s a tough customer, and I think they would be willing to deal with her when it comes to the implementation of the deal… I believe a President Clinton would also seek to pragmatically work with Iran on areas where we have overlapping interests – for example Sec. Kerry, President Obama have worked with the Iranians to try and bring some sort of diplomatic solution in Syria, where the Iranians are at the table with others. I wouldn’t rule that out if Hillary Clinton were president. But it wouldn’t be out of any wild hope that anytime soon we are going to have a rapprochement with the Iranian government.”

Korb: “I had the great the great fortune to spend a day with the late Yitzhak Rabin. And I asked him, ‘How can you negotiate with Arafat?’ He said, ‘Look, you gotta negotiate with your enemies, your friends you just deal with.’ I think Sanders would be open to that (dealing with Iran) just like President Obama was to Cuba… In terms of countries that we ally with, I don’t know if I would prefer to live in Iran as compared to some of our allies who President Obama is meeting with this week.”

Indira Lakshmanan: “What type of pressures would Hillary Clinton as president be willing to put on Israel and the Palestinians in order to address a peace process that hasn’t budged since her husband’s administration?”

Chollet: “As Secretary of State she worked tirelessly to try to being about peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians… As president, she from day one will be committed to try to work to being about a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. She believes in a two-state solution… This is an issue she’s got a lot of experience in. It’s a very difficult issue. But there’s a lot that the U.S. can do to try to bring peace, and I think she’s deeply committed to doing it.”

“Secretary Clinton can be pretty tough with the Israelis. I was in the room with her when she had pretty blunt conversations with Israeli leaders, but we do it as friends, we do it as allies. When she disagrees with certain decisions made by the government, she is very clear about those disagreements, but it is within the context of a many-decade-long partnership and friendship. She has shown time and again during her time in public life that she is willing to tell it like it is and stand up publicly when necessary, privately when necessary, and send a very clear message to ally and adversary alike.”

Korb: “But she didn’t criticize him when he came out against the Iran deal. And I would be interested to see what she has to say about Netanyahu saying that the Golan Heights are part of Israel… If you compare what Secretary Clinton did when she was Secretary of State and the speech she gave to AIPAC to the one she gave as a candidate, they are not even close because when she was Secretary of State she said many of the things that Senator Sanders has said. She went [to AIPAC] and she said one of the first things she would do when she got into office would be to invite Prime Minister Netanyahu over – after how he dissed President Obama and went to the Congress. I am sure she has experience. But what Senator Sanders has done was he has laid the groundwork to be an effective negotiator because the Palestinians would say there is someone who stuck up for us when it wasn’t easy to do.” Watch the debate [YouTube]

Matthew Rozsa: “Bernie Sanders is pushing mainstream Democrats to the left on Israel” [Quartz]

Cardin says Netanyahu’s declaration of Israeli claim to Golan not ‘timely’ – “I don’t think it’s timely to figure out what’s happening in the north when there is an active war in Syria,” Cardin said of Netanyahu. “Ultimately you’re going to need to have some type of recognition factor and you don’t have a government you can negotiate with and talk with in Syria,” said Cardin, who was meeting foreign policy reporters during a break from Senate votes.” [JTA]

“Chelsea Clinton Crowd Shuts Down Anti-Israel Protester” by Jacob Kornbluh: “An anti-Israel protester attempting to disrupt a Hillary for America campaign event headed by Chelsea Clinton in Ithaca, NY, earlier this week was drowned out by loud chants of “Hillary, Hillary, Hillary,” a video published on Thursday showed.” [JewishInsider]

“How Bernie Sanders’s Jewish outreach coordinator started a major controversy over Israel” by Zack Beauchamp: “These critics, to be clear, have a lot less political clout then the ones calling for Zimmerman’s firing. And no prominent Bernie supporters have threatened to abandon him over the Zimmerman kerfuffle. It seems exceedingly unlikely to hurt the Sanders campaign in any meaningful way. This is, beyond just this one campaign or this one election, the first of what is likely to be many skirmishes in the war over the future of American Jewry. And it’s not clear how they’ll go.”  [Vox]

“Group Founded by Richard Nixon to Host Foreign Policy Address by Donald Trump” by Maggie Haberman: ”Donald J. Trump will deliver his first foreign policy address at the National Press Club in Washington next Wednesday, his campaign said, at an event hosted by an organization founded by President Richard M. Nixon.” [FirstDraft]

“Trump team tells GOP he has been ‘projecting an image’” by Steve Peoples and Thomas Beaumont: ”Donald Trump’s chief lieutenants told skeptical Republican leaders Thursday that the GOP front-runner has been “projecting an image” so far in the 2016 primary season and “the part that he’s been playing is now evolving” in a way that will improve his standing among general election voters.” [AP]

Charlie Spies writes: ”I Was the RNC’s Election Lawyer: The Rules Aren’t ‘Rigged’ And Trump Has To Play By Them” [IJReview]

“At Shapiro’s, GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz orders pastrami and cheers ring out” by Stephanie Wang: ”U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, greeted supporters Thursday at Shapiro’s deli in Indianapolis — and took a moment to eat a pastrami sandwich on rye. “Ted! Get the corned beef!” a supporter called out to the presidential candidate. But Cruz took a recommendation from deli owner Brian Shapiro for pastrami. His supporters still cheered as Cruz held up his chosen sandwich to show the packed crowd.” [IndyStar; JI]

**Good Friday Morning! Enjoying the Daily Kickoff? Please share us with your friends & tell them to sign up at [JI].  Have a tip, scoop, or op-ed? We’d love to hear from you. Anything from hard news and punditry to the lighter stuff, including event coverage, job transitions, or even special birthdays, is much appreciated. Email editor@jewishinsider.com**
BUSINESS BRIEFS: “Alongside Katz’s Pastrami, Luxury Condos” [NYTimes] • “Sands’s Adelson Mulls Singapore Mall Sale After Restriction Ends” [Bloomberg; BusinessInsider] • ”Why Vornado’s Steven Roth was at Trump’s victory speech” [Crains] • “Isaac Chetrit, Yadidi plan Midtown tower of up to 80 stories” [RealDeal] • “The Sunset Harbour tiff began last year, after Colmer and his partners, who include billionaire businessman Marc Rowan, paid $14 million for eight lots facing Maurice Gibb Memorial Park between Purdy Avenue and Bay Road.” [MiamiHerald] • “De Blasio’s biggest campaign bundler is a top WeWork exec” [RealDeal] • “Hollywood producer David Geffen gives $100m to MoMA” [ArtNews] • “Harvard Business School officially broke ground today for Klarman Hall, a new convening center to be constructed on the campus” [HBS]

SPOTLIGHT: “The FBI Paid at Least $1 Million to Get Inside the San Bernardino Shooter’s iPhone” by Darren Orf: ”After weeks of a very public back and forth with Apple over opening the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone, the FBI opted for plan B and asked an Israeli security firm to crack the device. And they paid a premium.” [Gizmodo; NYTimes]

MEDIA WATCH: “How Pentagram Helped An Online Magazine Do The Unthinkable: Move To Print” by Diana Budds: ”When Alana Newhouse—editor of Tablet, an online publication about Jewish life and culture—decided to launch a print edition, she wanted the opposite: something messy, off the cuff, and gritty. New-school journalism that hearkened back to old-school magazines through design.”[FastCoDesign]

TALK OF OUR NATION: “London Becomes a Leading Destination for French Jews After Attacks” by Kimiko De Freytas-Tamura: “About 5,000 French Jews are thought to have moved to Britain over the past two years, according to the Conference of European Rabbis. Britain is now a leading destination for French Jews, after Israel, which welcomed 7,800 French Jews last year, said Avi Mayer, a spokesman for the Jewish Agency.” [NYTimes]

PASSOVER TALK: “Passover for the rich: Inside the lavish getaways where you might run into Odell Beckham, Jr.” by Lisa Scherzer: “It’s kind of ridiculous in the most wonderful way,” says Helit Edelstein, head of marketing for Kosherica, a Jewish travel company that’s running two Passover programs this year, at The Atlantis in the Bahamas, and the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The breakfast schedule at the Atlantis pretty much explains it all: “We start with a pre-breakfast, which is a modified breakfast. Then full-on breakfast, then post-breakfast for people who didn’t make the first breakfast – it’s a little less food than the regular breakfast, which has an enormous variety, a zillion types of fish and cheeses. People are always amazed… it’s really exciting,” Edelstein says.” [Yahoo]

“Why Is Passover Food So Expensive?” by Ethan Wolff-Mann: ”In 1991, kosher food giant Manischewitz pleaded no-contest to charges of price-fixing in the matzoh market. But anti-competitive behavior aside, the main driver of high prices is compliance with religious rules and regulations… Unlike standard kosher food, the passover stuff needs constant supervision. And, as Cohen puts it: “Someone’s got to pay for the rabbi’s time.” That someone is the customer.” [Time]

Avi Steinberg: “And, on Passover, God Gave the Israelites Back Their Legumes” [NewYorker]

WSJ A1: “Crafting a Kosher Cocktail During Passover Takes Creativity” by Alison Sider:“Last year, Lizzy Greif learned of a modern twist: an infusion of fresh horseradish into vodka made specially for Passover, served as a shot. Ms. Greif, who lives in Dallas, sampled the not-as-bitter-as-expected herb during a class on “liquid Seders,” where attendees learned to make kosher cocktails that stand in for each of the symbolic elements on a Seder plate. Only the most serious enthusiasts tackle liquid Seders, but they’re part of a broader trend: Finding ways to craft Passover-proof cocktails that adhere to the dietary limitations of the holiday.” [WSJ]

Yitz Applbaum on the Wine of the Week: ”I almost always exclusively pour Israeli wines for Passover. There are so many to choose from and it seems very appropriate to surround our Seder with all things Israel. This year however I am spending Passover with my family in Italy and did a bit of research on Kosher Italian wines in preparation. I assumed there would be a few good ones but that I would still mostly pour Israeli wines. I was more than pleasantly surprised to learn that there are dozens of wonderful Italian Kosher wines and I have spent the past few months sampling many of them.”

“I will not review them for this column this but just so you’re aware of the range of choices you have for the future. There is a Reale Signi Brunello di Montalcino from the great wine growing region of Tuscany and there is a Borgo Reale Maturo which is 55% Primitivo and 45% Negroamaro from the Northern regions of Italy. Lastly, from the Umbria region of Italy, Falesco Marciliano and comprised of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc. This wine encompasses many of the greatest flavors of Italy and is a good starting and ending point for any journey into Kosher Italian wines.”

BIRTHWEEK: Scott Yanover of the Chicago Mayor’s office. (yesterday) h/t Tevi Troy… Alexandra Cohen, operations coordinator at Birthright Israel (yesterday)…

WEEKEND BIRTHDAYS: Veteran Israeli journalist Shmuel Rosner… Minnesota Vikings owner Zygmunt ‘Zygi’ Wilf turns 66… Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Ariella Saperstein… Rabbi Steven Burg… Orthodox Union’s Nathan Diament… Alex Swieca… Bill Browder turns 52… Marim Weissman… Actor and later one of Hollywood’s most prolific producers, Mark Damon (born Alan Harris), turns 83… English journalist and former anchor of of BBC Television’s Newsnight, Adam Eliot Geoffrey Raphael, turns 78… Former US Poet Laureate and winner of a Pulitzer Prize, Louise Elisabeth Glück, turns 73… Conductor and professor of music at Boston University, Joshua Rifkin, turns 72… British economist and former Chief Economist at the World Bank, Sir Nicholas Herbert Stern, turns 70… Alan Oppenheimer turns 86… Literary critic and Holocaust scholar, George Steiner turns 87…

Yeshiva of Brooklyn student who went on to become an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and Peabody Award winning singer and actress, Barbra Streisand, turns 74… Israeli architect and artist, Ron Arad, turns 65… Film director, Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg) turns 86… Russian Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics (1988), Yelena Shushunova, turns 47… Former French Finance Minister and later Managing Director of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, turns 67… Co-founder of Starbucks and entrepreneurial advisor, Zev Siegl, turns 61…

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FIRST LOOK: “How Hillary Clinton Became a Hawk” by Mark Landler: “There’s no doubt that Hillary Clinton’s more muscular brand of American foreign policy is better matched to 2016 than it was to 2008,” said Jake Sullivan, her top policy adviser at the State Department, who plays the same role in her campaign… It’s an open question how well Clinton’s hawkish instincts match the country’s mood. Americans are weary of war and remain suspicious of foreign entanglements. And yet, after the retrenchment of the Obama years, there is polling evidence that they are equally dissatisfied with a portrait of their country as a spent force, managing its decline amid a world of rising powers like China, resurgent empires like Vladimir Putin’s Russia and lethal new forces like the Islamic State.” [NYTimesMag]

DRIVING THE DAY: “Obama starts talks with Gulf leaders aimed at easing strains” by Roberta Rampton: “U.S. President Barack Obama and Gulf Arab leaders started talks in Riyadh on Thursday at a summit aimed at forging joint action on perceived security threats from Iran and Islamic State, and at ironing out strains in their old alliance.” [Reuters; WashPost]

Jeffrey Goldberg tweets: “Prediction: Barack Obama will not remember [today] as the most gratifying day of his presidency” [Twitter]

“White House: Obama unlikely to visit Iran” by Nick Gass: “President Barack Obama is unlikely to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran before leaving office, one of the president’s top national security aides said Thursday. “I think the trip to Cuba was probably enough in terms of, you know, breaking a longstanding taboo,” deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters at a news briefing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.” [Politico]

Mohammad Javad Zarif: “Why Iran is building up its defenses: The words “never again” resonate with Iranians, too.” [WashPost]

“Never Mind the Missile Tests. Iran Just Wants to Get Along” by Eli Lake: ”"Never again” is of course most associated with preventing another Holocaust against the Jews. It is the title of Martin Gilbert’s history of that crime. Zarif is the front man of a regime that not only threatens to wipe out the world’s only Jewish state, but also actively denies the Holocaust. In June, Iran will host a competition where it will give a $50,000 award to the cartoonist who best mocks the Nazi genocide. An earlier winner of the contest was a cartoon that depicted Hitler and Anne Frank in bed with the fuhrer saying, “Put that in your diary.” This is the Iran that Zarif complains is unfairly demonized in the West.” [BloombergView]

Michael Pregent: “While Tehran continues to sow anti-American terrorism across the Middle East, Riyadh holds the key to regional stability. This is not the time to back away from the House of Saud.” [ForeignPolicy]

“Fight over Iran’s access to dollars takes partisan turn” by Julian Pecquet: ”A number of Democrats — including Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. — have also raised concerns, but many are wary of signing on to any bills that could be seen as seeking to undermine the president’s signature international achievement. Republicans “are going to be much more anxious to shoot down everything the administration does,” Rep. Eliot Engel told Al-Monitor. “I’m less anxious to do that. But I am anxious to hold Iran’s feet to the fire, as we were promised we would be allowed to do if the JCPOA passed.”"[AlMonitor]

“A Win for Terror Victims in Iranian Funds Case” by Jacob Gershman: “The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a law passed by Congress that gives terrorism victims an explicit right to collect about $2 billion in frozen funds tied to Iran’s central bank.” [WSJ; Reuters]

“Hamas praises Jerusalem bus bomber as ‘martyr’” by AP: “The Islamic militant group Hamas is praising a Palestinian as a “martyr” for carrying out a bus bombing that injured about 20 people in Jerusalem this week.” [WashPost]

Gen. Amnon Reshef: “Two Hundred Israeli Generals: In Fighting Violence, Military Means Alone Will Not Do” [Newsweek]

The Most In-Your-Face Political Ad Ever For the Israeli Left Just Dropped: ”With a Trumpian message, Israeli mogul turned politician Erel Margalit has joined the race to lead the Labor party and remake the Israeli left” [TabletMag; Haaretz]

ALSO TODAY: “Netanyahu Seeks Putin’s Assurance Over Syria in Moscow Visit” by Jonathan Ferziger: ”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Moscow looking for a commitment that Russia’s reduction of its military forces in Syria won’t let the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and other militias strengthen their forces on his country’s northern frontier.” [Bloomberg]

–Earlier this week: “Top Jewish Leader Ron Lauder Thanks Putin for Fighting anti-Semitism” [Haaretz]

DRIVING THE CONVERSATION: “Trump terrifies world leaders: And Obama’s reassurances aren’t calming them down” by Edward-Isaac Dovere and Bryan Bender:“According to more than two dozen U.S. and foreign-government officials, Trump has become the starting point for what feels like every government-to-government interaction. In meetings, private dinners and phone calls, world leaders are urgently seeking explanations from Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Trade Representative Michael Froman on down.”

“Representatives of Arab governments have, so far, seemed the calmest, still largely laughing off Trump and dismissing his chances. The Israelis are walking their own weird tightrope: Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been perennially at odds with the Obama administration, but with the prime minister condemning the Muslim ban proposal and ducking a meeting on what was supposed to be a Trump tour of the Holy Land in December — all while his U.S. ambassador and confidant, Ron Dermer, consulted with the candidate’s son-in-law, who was writing Trump’s speech to AIPAC last month.” [Politico]

“How Silicon Valley Created Donald Trump: And can they stop him?” by Nick Bilton:“Stopping Trump has become a fixation for Silicon Valley—an industry that holds itself responsible for changing the world and making it a better place. At Facebook’s recent F8 developer conference, Mark Zuckerberg paused during his discussion about drones and A.P.I.s in order to rebuke Trump’s demonic statements on immigration. “Most of my friends think he’s a f***ing idiot,” a venture capitalist said onstage at a recent tech conference. Stopping Trump was one of the main topics at a secret meeting with billionaires, tech C.E.O.s (including Tim Cook, Elon Musk, and Larry Page), and top members of the Republican establishment in March. And it’s the topic du jour anytime I speak to entrepreneurs, bloggers, or V.C.s up North.” [VanityFair]

Anti-Trump PAC raised $8.4 million in March: ”The group, led by Mitt Romney alumna Katie Packer and joined by former Jeb Bush spokesman Tim Miller, raised $2 million from Wisconsin shipper Richard Uihlein, $1.7 million from investor Michael Vlock (who’s married to Hyatt heiress Karen Pritzker), and $1 million apiece from asset manager Cliff Asness and Arkansas investment banker Warren Stephens. Previous benefactors Marlene Ricketts, the Chicago Cubs owner, and Paul Singer, the hedge fund billionaire, each gave another $500,000. Smaller donors included Harlen Crow, Bruce Kovner and William Oberndorf ($250,000 each).” [Politico]

“GOP donors not enthusiastic about Trump in Nov. election” by Jonathan Swan: “Trump has insulted most of the contributors and fundraisers in the country,” said Mel Sembler. “It’s very hard to stroke a $10,000 check when the candidate is saying ‘I don’t take money from these big donors,’ ” Lisa Spies says… Trump controversially told the audience — which contained many of the GOP’s top Jewish donors — that “you’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money.” Said Sembler: “You know what my reaction was? That’s another check I don’t have to write. And I’m not writing any checks for you.” [TheHill]

SPOTTED: Ted Cruz’s Chief of Staff Paul Teller at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station boarding Amtrak back to D.C.

“Cruz’s high spending rate intensifies his need to find new donors” by Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy: “In March, four of the groups — Trusted Leadership PAC, Stand for Truth, Keep the Promise I and Keep the Promise III — together raised $8 million. Of that, $2 million came from Robert Mercer, who had previously given $11.5 million to the pro-Cruz effort. Another $1 million came from Chicago-based shipping magnate Richard Uihlein, who had already given $1 million.” [WashPost] • “Cruz earns $250k at NORPAC fundraiser” [NJJN]

Matea Gold: ”Ghost corp Children of Israel LLC surfaces again, giving another $150k to pro-Cruz Stand for Truth.” [Twitter]

“Haim and Cheryl Saban Give Additional $2 Million to Pro-Clinton SuperPAC” by Ted Johnson: “According the Federal Election Commission reports, the Sabans made their contributions on March 16. Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg have each given $1 million to Priorities, and Katzenberg has been lining up donors to the group. Director J.J. Abrams and his wife each gave $500,000.” [Yahoo] • “Sanders outraises Clinton for third month in a row” [Politico]

CNN’s Dan Merica: ”Sarah Bard, Hillary Clinton’s director of Jewish outreach, will headline a fundraiser in Tel Aviv, Israel on May 17″ [Twitter]

**Good Thursday Morning! Enjoying the Daily Kickoff? Please share us with your friends & tell them to sign up at [JI].  Have a tip, scoop, or op-ed? We’d love to hear from you. Anything from hard news and punditry to the lighter stuff, including event coverage, job transitions, or even special birthdays, is much appreciated. Email editor@jewishinsider.com**
BUSINESS BRIEFS: “How DailyWorth CEO Amanda Steinberg Is Helping Women Shrink The Wealth Gap” [FastCompany] • “Kushner brothers, Compass ranked among top tech money magnets” [REWeekly] • “Judge Denies Request in Redstone Lawsuit: Sumner Redstone’s granddaughter won’t be permitted to join his former companion as a petitioner in lawsuit” [WSJ] • “Jewish family makes claims to prized Passover manuscript” [AP]

STARTUP NATION: “Sequoia has backed an Israeli fraud prevention startup that’s chasing a $200 billion industry” by Sam Shead: “Sequoia, one of the most reputable venture capital companies in the world, has backed an Israeli startup called Forter in a $32 million (£22 million) funding round that brings total investment in the business up to $50 million (£34 million).” [BusinessInsider]

CAMPUS BEAT: “BDS Move At NYU Tears Apart Student Union” by Hannah Dreyfus: “A new BDS initiative at NYU is calling for the university to close its program at Tel Aviv University, a measure far more extreme than any urged in previous petitions.” [JewishWeek]

HOLLYWOOD: “Having a Mentor Is So Important: On Brett Ratner’s Instagram” by Naomi Fry: “It’s something of a given to say that Instagram is where we now build our personal mythologies… Still, there’s something so ingenuous, so little-brotherish, about the way Ratner positions himself vis-à-vis these older men; something so poignant about his fandom, his excitement at sitting at their table, to smoke and drink and talk shop with them; something so honest about his awareness of his own relative goofiness. He’s no Superman, he’s #SuperRat, a self-deprecating play on his surname, and something so exposed in its desire to be included among their ranks. As I scroll through picture after picture, I find myself — maybe against my better judgment? — disarmed of my critical faculties. All I want is for Brett to be included! And really, isn’t that what we all want?” [NYTimesMag]

PROFILE: “Zac Posen Is Ready for His Close-Up” by Anjali Mullany: “It’s not easy to catch the fashion world off guard. But when Zac Posen announced two years ago that he was signing on as the creative director of women’s wear at Brooks Brothers, one of America’s oldest retailers, he raised more than a few well-groomed eyebrows.” [FastCompany]

SPORTS BLINK: “LeBron coach castoff could be perfect fit for Knicks’ triangle” by Marc Berman: “Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, who has been holed up in Atlanta, has told confidants he believes there’s “some interest” from the Knicks in him for their head-coaching job. The Israeli coaching legend is expected to get an interview, partly based on his close friendship with Knicks general manager Steve Mills, but also because of his history of “adaptability,’’ after having coached all over the globe.”[NYPost]

BIRTHDAYS: Former Reagan Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein turns 72… Comedienne, screenwriter, film director and actress, Elaine May (born Elaine Iva Berlin), turns 84… UCSB mathematician, Michael Hartley Freedman, an early winner of a MacArthur genius fellowship, turns 65… Voice actress Shayna Bracha Fox turns 32… Audra Marie Cohen, once the top ranked collegiate female tennis player in the US, turns 30… British chemist and professor of chemistry at the University of Cambridge, Sir Alan Roy Fersht, turns 73…

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SCENE LAST NIGHT — NY Primary Edition: JI was on location at both Trump Tower and the Times Square Sheraton for Donald Trump’s and Hillary Clinton’s respective victory rallies. [JewishInsider; Video]

OVERHEARD On The Rope Line: Hillary Clinton thanking NYC Councilman David Greenfield for his support after he told her that she won 2-1 in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in NYC. “Thank you for your efforts and thanks for taking such good care of John Podesta in Boro Park,” Hillary leaned in to tell Greenfield. [Video] • Hillary also thanked the JCRC’s Michael Miller [Video]

Spotted at the Sheraton: Rep. Eliot Engel, Sol Werdiger, Rabbi Menachem Genack, Aaron Keyak, David Lobl, Avi Fink Yehuda Friedman, Sharon Kleinbaum, AFT’s Randi Weingarten, NY State Assemblyman David Weprin, Mark Weprin. [Pic]

NYC activist Chaskel Bennett emails: ”When people in our community take the time to understand what Sanders is saying and what his campaign stands for, they are immediately turned off. With the help of a few activists, our local elected officials, and the nonstop criticism of Israel by Sanders himself, our #StoptheBern effort did its part to send Sanders away with a resounding defeat.”

Alan Abbey on Sanders: ”To steal a saying, as goes New York, so goes the nation. The victories of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in New York have poured cement overshoes on the campaigns of their challengers. But that cement hasn’t hardened yet, and the Sanders, Cruz, and Kasich campaigns will surely continue, even with those weights dragging them down. On a granular level, Clinton’s victory among the Jewish-inflected bourgeoisie and ethnic stew of metro New York was predictable, as was Sanders’ appeal across vast swathes of decaying upstate communities.”

Ezra Friedlander emails: “Clinton’s margin of victory in Jewish communities across NYC will not go unnoticed at the highest levels of the Clinton campaign and the DNC and might be the catalyst for a rapprochement between the Orthodox communities and the national Democratic party which has seen an erosion of support.”

Kasich supporter Brad Kastan emails: “Kasich’s focus on the Jewish vote paid off. 10th District, most Jewish district in America, which includes Boro Park, he gets a delegate! And he got 35% of the vote to Trump’s 45% Cruz got 20%. The only district that Kasich won is also the #2 in Jewish population — the east side district, Trump’s home. So the three places with significant Jews are the three delegates that Kasich secured in the State.”

John Kasich Passover Op-Ed: “In New York and in my home state of Ohio, I’ve met so many Jewish people who choose to live their lives in pursuit of helping the hungry, the poor, the sick, and other souls who are suffering. As a Christian, I worship the same God who brought the Jewish people out of bondage.”[JNS]

Dave Weigel tweets: “Looks like Kings County (Brooklyn) was the only one where Cruz beat Kasich for second place. #Matzomentum” [Twitter]

Trump voted at Central Synagogue: “The sidewalks surrounding Central Synagogue in Manhattan, where Trump voted, were lined with supporters and some protesters.” [CNN]

“Carl Icahn helps pal Trump celebrate big NY win” by Everett Rosenfeld: “Billionaire investor Carl Icahn was on hand Tuesday night for Donald Trump’s massive New York GOP primary win. When asked about the relationship between the two titans of business, Trump said “we just like each other.” And for his part, Icahn declared that “Trump is the only candidate who can stop the terrible gridlock in Washington and make Congress work again.”" [CNBC]

“New York Primary Converges With Fish and Passover Prep” by Alex Vadukul: “At a small fish market on Lee Avenue, a commercial artery of the Orthodox community in Williamsburg, fishmongers, standing behind the counter of iced fish, were too busy to talk. Emerich Tauber, 69, a retired fishmonger, seemed disinclined to support either candidate, Hillary Clinton or Senator Bernie Sanders. “The old guy, surely not,” he said, unable to identify Mr. Sanders by name. Though Democrats are unable to vote in the Republican primary, Mr. Tauber expressed his desire to vote for Donald J. Trump. “We need change,” Mr. Tauber said. “He’s crazy. But we need change. He can do it.”” [NYTimes]

“Two Friends Go for a Walk on the Upper West Side” by Noah Remnick: “On Tuesday afternoon, two friends went for a walk on West 72nd Street in Manhattan, determined not to let politics spoil the nice weather. But this is the Upper West Side, where opinions outnumber the variety of bagels. Mark Fleischer, 79, and Abraham Hershow, 88, retirees who had become close through a Jewish men’s group, had voted before they met up. Clearly, they had not cast similar ballots… “Sanders,” Fleischer continued, “I can’t stand how he talks, and we don’t need a socialist. That leaves me with Hillary, I guess. She’s experienced, and I like her husband.” Mr. Hershow shook his head emphatically. Bernie Sanders had his vote, he said. “I can’t stand someone who takes hundreds of thousands of dollars for speeches,” he said of Mrs. Clinton.” [NYTimes]

“Why Orthodox Jews Aren’t Feeling the Bern” by Kevin Ellerton: ”I’d grown up in this tight-knit community of Modern-Orthodox Jews—most of the houses on the canvass map belonged to family friends—and I imagined it would be easy to convince some of these neighbors to start feeling the Bern. Boy was I wrong.” [ViceNews]

“In New York, Sanders Tries to Push the Limits of Religion and Politics” by Molly O’Toole:“Sanders’s language on the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine appears directed at younger, more liberal voters, Abe Foxman said. He also said it is intended to divide. Sanders “is playing to a certain attitude Israel is too strong, too aggressive,” he said. “This campaign this year is anti-establishment. So in many ways, support for Israel becomes an anti-establishment issue as well.”” [ForeignPolicy]

“J Street Faces Balancing Act as Democrats Push Envelope on Israel” by Nathan Guttman: “Sanders’s willingness to challenge the decades-old paradigm on Israel endears him to J Street, but his candidacy also highlights a divide in the group. Its student wing has embraced Sanders, but its board and important donors are Clinton supporters.” [Forward]

“WH: Obama Shares Biden’s Criticism of Netanyahu” by Jacob Kornbluh: “White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Tuesday defended Vice President Joe Biden’s harsh rebuke of the Netanyahu government’s policies… Asked whether or not President Obama shares the Vice President’s sentiments, Earnest admitted, “There is a source of significant frustration. There certainly is frustration with both sides that we have encountered.” Earnest added, “the extent of the differences between the two sides are significant enough that it’s not something that’s going to get resolved in the next nine months,” he said.”[JewishInsider]

ON THE HILL: “Congress unblocks $108 million in Palestinian aid” by Julian Pecquet:“Congress has released $108 million in blocked aid to the Palestinians, Al-Monitor has learned, allowing payments to the Palestinian Authority’s creditors to continue. Key lawmakers had placed holds on $159 million in aid since last fall to protest the Palestinians’ UN statehood bid and payments to the families of people who conduct attacks against Israelis.” [AlMonitor]

“Congressional testimony highlights ties between Hamas-linked charities, BDS” by Rebecca Shimoni Stoil: “The US should boost transparency of nonprofit organizations in order to shed light on ties between a key pro-boycott organization and defunct charities that were implicated in funding Hamas, analyst Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told members of Congress during testimony Tuesday afternoon when two subcommittees of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs met to discuss current threats to Israel.” [ToI; Video]

**Good Wednesday Morning! Enjoying the Daily Kickoff? Please share us with your friends & tell them to sign up at [JI].  Have a tip, scoop, or op-ed? We’d love to hear from you. Anything from hard news and punditry to the lighter stuff, including event coverage, job transitions, or even special birthdays, is much appreciated. Email editor@jewishinsider.com**
BUSINESS BRIEFS: Dan Doctoroff, the founder of Sidewalk Labs, discusses LinkNYC and other technologies that tackle challenges common to big cities. H/T ReDef [CharlieRose] • Aby Rosen’s RFR sells 11 Howard Hotel to Commerz Real for $170M [RealDeal] • “Francisco Partners to buy Israel’s SintecMedia for $400 million” [Reuters]

STARTUP NATION: “Israeli Apester reups, adds $12M in closing $17M Series A” by Gabriel Avner: “This second leg of funding was led by Blumberg Capital, with participation from previous investor Mangrove Capital. Co-founded in 2014 by CEO Moti Cohen, Apester provides publishers and the brands they work with tools for telling stories and encouraging user engagement. Their tool kit taps into the trend of posting quizzes and other interactives related to the content from the site in hopes of adding value for visitors.” [GeekTime]

TALK OF OUR NATION: “What different styles of head coverings say about Israeli Jewish men” by Michael Lipka and Angelina Theodorou: ”What you wear can say a lot about who you are and what you believe. In Israel, for instance, the type of kippa – or lack thereof – worn by an Israeli Jewish man often is strongly correlated with his religious identity as well as some political views. These skullcaps (also known by their Yiddish name, yarmulkes), are regularly worn by about one-third of Israel’s Jewish men, especially the religiously observant. They come in several basic styles, with some more favored by particular Jewish subgroups than others.” [PewResearch]

“Yeshiva students take BOCES path to college” by Adrienne Sanders: ”Taub is among a growing group of ultra-Orthodox Jews whose thirst for secular knowledge has led them to an educational passageway from their deeply religious communities to the wider world: Rockland BOCES, a state-backed education program, and Rockland Community College, a State University of New York school. In recent years, roughly 40 ultra-Orthodox students (mostly young men) attended BOCES each year, an increase from 10 years ago when there were only a handful, Moschetti said.” [LoHud]

TOP TWEET — Howard Mortman: ”PASSOVER UPDATED FOR CYBER-SECURITY: Now, in addition to Four Questions, you’ll have to create a password and pin number.” [Twitter]

DESSERT: “Getting baked on Passover not just for matzah, rabbi rules” by Raoul Wootliff:“Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, widely considered the leading living ultra-Orthodox halachic authority, ruled that marijuana is kosher for Passover and can be either eaten or smoked over the eight-day Jewish festival, during which strict dietary laws apply.” [ToI]

BIRTHDAYS: Television personality and game show host, J.D. Roth (born as James David Weinroth), turns 48… Schusterman’s Yaniv Rivlin… Alex Berman… Swiss physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, Karl Alexander Müller, turns 89… Immigrants’ rights activist and professor at Salem State University, Aviva Chomsky, eldest daughter of Noam Chomsky, turns 59… Jazz bassist and composer Avishai Cohen turns 46… British film director Sarah Gavron turns 46… Kelly McCormish…