From the Daily Kickoff

FIRST LOOK: “The Real Deal: Full-speed at work and hands-on at home, Ivanka Trump knows what it means to be a modern millennial—the exact demographic she wants to dress.” by Jonathan Van Meter in the March issue of Vogue: “I would say Ivanka is definitely the CEO of our household,” says her husband, Jared Kushner, “whereas I’m more on the board of directors.”… Ivanka and Jared met when they were both 25, in 2007, for a business lunch set up by a commercial real estate broker and another friend who thought they could do deals together. “They very innocently set us up thinking that our only interest in one another would be transactional,” says Ivanka. “Whenever we see them we’re like, The best deal we ever made!” They dated for two years prior to getting married in 2009 at a lavish, star-studded wedding for 500 in New Jersey. To many people’s surprise, Ivanka converted to Judaism, as the Kushners are Orthodox.”

“In some ways they are the twenty-first-century analog to the It Power Couple that her parents were during the go-go eighties. When I bring this up to Ivanka, she sighs. “I saw the glamour and the excitement that surrounded my parents. Rooms would hush when they’d walk in. But I think for Jared and me, it’s more about real relationships. I always prefer smaller groups.” Two of the people who are often in those smaller groups are Chelsea Clinton and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky. “She’s always aware of everyone around her and ensuring that everyone is enjoying the moment,” says Chelsea. “In some ways reminds me of my dad, and his ability to increase the joy of the room.”

“Eventually, we head to the Trump SoHo, where Ivanka and Jared are being interviewed… Afterward, the three of us head down to the lobby for a drink. Because we are with Ivanka, who designed this hotel, the waiter just starts bringing food to the table: edamame, followed by tuna sashimi, and finally some Kobe-beef dumplings. “I don’t eat raw fish; I should have told them,” Ivanka says to Jared. “I’m going to have to hoard the edamame.” And then to me. “And we don’t eat meat… Or, well, we keep kosher.” I had been reluctant to bring up the subject of Ivanka’s conversion to Judaism, but now I don’t have to. “I always shied away from it being a public conversation because it’s such a personal thing, she says. “We’re pretty observant, more than some, less than others. I just feel like it’s such an intimate thing for us.” And then she says, “It’s been such a great life decision for me. I am very modern, but I’m also a very traditional person, and think that’s an interesting juxtaposition in how I was raised as well. I really find that it Judaism, it creates an amazing blueprint for family connectivity.”

“Also the ritual for us having Sabbath,” says Jared. “Yeah, we observe the Sabbath, says Ivanka, sipping her lychee martini. “From Friday to Saturday we don’t do anything but hang out with one another. We don’t make phone calls.” “Ivanka’s such a type A,” says Jared. “She just gets it done. But she said, ‘If we’re going to do Shabbos, I’m going to cook.’ She never cooked before in her life, and became a great cook. So for Friday, she’ll make dinner for just the two of us, and we turn off our phones for 25 hours. Putting aside the religious aspect of it; we live in such a fast-paced world.” “It’s an amazing thing when you’re so connected,” his wife adds, “to really sign off. And for Arabella to know that she has me, undivided one day a week? We don’t do anything except play with each other, hang out with one another, go on walks together. Pure family.” Available On Newsstands [Vogue]