First Look – ‘The Machatanister’ – Politico Magazine profiles the (Jewish) Clinton-in-Law, Marjorie Margolies, as she attempts a political comeback for a seat back in the House of Representatives: “When Margolies was elected to the House in 1992, she was in her early 50s, and her last name was Margolies-Mezvinsky. After that, three key developments occurred. One, President Bill Clinton personally convinced her to cast a tie-breaking vote on his infamous 1993 budget bill that cost the Pennsylvania congresswoman her job. Two, her now-ex husband went to jail for running a Ponzi scheme. Three, her son Marc married Chelsea Clinton. At a recent fundraiser she referred to the time Bill phoned from the Oval Office to beg for her vote. “When he called and said, ‘What would it take?’” she tells her well-heeled donors, “I did not say, ‘Your first-born.’” She’s joking. Sort of.

–Perhaps the question to ask is not whether the Clintons will come—but whether it’ll make any difference if they do. Margolies is already being painted as the right-wing candidate running in her newly redrawn district, which is now considerably less suburban than it was 20 years ago. State representative Brendan Boyle is thought to have a lock on the urban part of the district, and state senator Daylin Leach is the favorite among progressive voters. While an internal poll showed Margolies as the frontrunner in August, it’s unclear what her natural voter base is. Indeed, if you scroll through her campaign donations, you’ll find that most of them come from tony suburbs like Bryn Mawr and Bala Cynwyd that are still located in her old district—not middle- and working-class Northeast Philadelphia, which now comprises more than half of the new seat.” [PoliticoMag]
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2016 Watch: Hillary Clinton, at Holbrooke gala last night, is silent on Iran: “A foreign policy debate is underway about Iran. Asia has become an urgent hot spot. And on Wednesday evening, the Democratic foreign policy establishment gathered in tuxedos and gowns around the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of European statues to hear from the last secretary of state and possibly the next president. But Hillary Rodham Clinton did not have anything to say about the Iran nuclear deal, nor about the air defense zone over the East China Sea. During 30 minutes of questioning, she simply wasn’t asked.

–Clinton’s interviewer, financier and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, defended his decision to ask what one might consider softball questions. “She’s very smart, and she’s very cautious,” Rubenstein told a few reporters. “She wasn’t going to say anything that was going to make news.” Rubenstein said Clinton made no restrictions on what he could ask. He said he wanted to “give the crowd a good time” by asking Clinton to share humorous and colorful anecdotes. “I’m not a journalist; I’m a businessman,” Rubenstein said. This year, the private equity group he co-founded, the Carlyle Group, paid Clinton to hold a private discussion with the firm’s shareholders.” [WashPost]

Happening today – White House Hanukkah Parties: For the first time the White House Hanukkah party will be divided into two separate receptions one after the other. Although, similar to past years, there will be plenty of kosher food and a performance from Israeli-born Grammy winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari. The White House released a photo slideshow of Hanukkah at the White House [WH]; Israeli NBA player Omri Casspi is looking forward to attending the reception with his mother – [HoustonChron]; As is Nick Muzin, director of coalitions for the House Republican Conference, who tweeted “Looking forward to the @WhiteHouse Hanukkah party tomorrow. Someone didn’t vet the guest list!” [@NickMuzin]

John Kerry arrived in Israel last night for more talks amid tensions [JPost] — US may seek partial dismantling of Arak reactor [ToI] — Josh Block OpEd: Is there a real agreement with the Iranians? [WJW] — GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter: Nuke Iran If War Is Necessary [TPM]

Mystery in Lebanon: How Did Assassins Penetrate a Hezbollah Stronghold? A senior Hezbollah operative gunned down in front of his apartment building has sent accusations flying over who was behind the assassination: “It was just around midnight when Hassan al-Laqis returned home to the middle-class neighborhood of Hadath, south-west of Beirut. He had entered the parking lot of his building, but was still in his car when someone opened fire. In one version of stories Lebanese security officials have given to the newswires, the shooter was a single assassin with a silencer; in another version, a group of gunman fired from a nearby car. In either case, he was pronounced dead Wednesday morning in a nearby hospital. Regional experts say that Laqis was the most important Hezbollah leader to be assassinated since 2008, when Imad Mughniyeh, a top Hezbollah military commander, was killed by a bomb that ripped through his car. His death, they said, was sure to have repercussions.”[BuzzFeed]

Peter Beinart responds to The New Republic: Yes, TNR, There Really is an American Jewish Cocoon [DailyBeast]

ACLU sues to silence religions: “Once the ACLU is done with the Catholic chain of command, who’s next? The chief rabbis of Israel this year issued a rare public statement likening abortion to “fetal murder.” Are they — or those who look to them for guidance — going to be fair game for the ACLU if a Jewish institution deems that the life of the mother is not in enough danger to send her to an abortion clinic?” [NYPost]

ADL blasts NYC Councilwoman who claims ‘Knockout’ Attacks on Jews are because“Many African American/Caribbean residents expressed a genuine concern that as the Jewish community continues to grow, they would be pushed out by their Jewish landlords or by Jewish families looking to purchase homes,” Cumbo wrote in the 1,200-word letter, which was emailed to supporters and posted on her Facebook page. [DNA-Info] — Video: Russell Simmons Speaks out Against “Knockout Game” [EthnicUnderstanding]

Praise for Mayor-Elect De-Blasio announcement of new first Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris: Former New York City Finance and Housing Commissioner Abraham Bidermanpraised Mayor-elect Bill DeBlasio for naming Anthony Shorris to serve as his first deputy mayor. “I know Anthony Shorris very well,” said Mr. Biderman, a member of the board of trustees of Agudath Israel of America. “We were colleagues for many years in the Koch administration and he succeeded me as New York City Finance Commissioner. He very much understands our community.” “We worked together for almost a decade; he is knowledgeable, competent and deals well with the issues.” Mr. Biderman added. H/T Jacob Kornbluh [YC] 

Jews Bid Farewell to Bloomberg at Mayor’s Last Hanukkah Party, With Powdered Sugar on their Lips: “Waiters bore the ponderous mounds of donuts into the event hall at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, where 500 of the mayor’s guests were celebrating the last official Hanukkah party of the Bloomberg administration. It was a farewell party for a constituency that counted the departing mayor as one of its own — even if Bloomberg himself was a two-times-a-year kind of Jew, at most.” [Forward]

Bloomberg Headed to Honolulu for Post-Mayoral Fundraiser for Fellow Jewish Politician Sen. Brian Schatz: “Just one day after he departs City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is headed to sunny Hawaii to help Senator Brian Schatz raise money ahead of an expected battle for his seat next year.” [Politicker]

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Jewish Real Estate RoundUp: Frank Lowy’s Westfield to Buy World Trade Center Retail Stake, Brings its Investment in the Property to $1.4B [Bloomberg] — Larry Silverstein cleared of blame for 7 World Trade Center’s fall on 9/11 [RealDeal] — NJ Council Expedites Ghermezian’s American Dream Mall’s Bond Process [Law360] — Joe Sitt’s Thor shops for more Soho space [REW] — Nonprofit inks deal for 218K sf at Kushner, Extell UWS building [RealDeal]

Matthew Bronfman – Ruby Schron Investment Group Earn 92% Return on Israel Discount Bank Shares: [Globes]

Broadcom Chairman Henry Samueli’s success recipe: Israeli start-ups and NHL hockey – “When communications chip giant Broadcom needs to develop a new technology for its customers, it scours the world looking for start-ups, and often, according to Broadcom Chairman Henry Samueli, “we end up finding those companies in Israel.” In fact, he said, “it’s actually somewhat amazing — no matter what technology we need, there is usually an Israeli company already doing it, and they are often the best in the world at it.” When it comes to teamwork, Samueli is an expert — not just due to his helming of Broadcom, but also because he is owner of the Anaheim Ducks hockey team.“Buying it was an opportunity that was just there,” said Samueli of that acquisition. “But it’s turned out to be really fun.” [ToI]

Jews on the News

Jewish StartUp – Video: Cory Vines co-founder Daniel Lieberman on CNBC [CNBC]

The “Roar” heard round the world: Remembering Olivia Wise on Anderson Cooper [CNN]

Church Rescue: The Rabbi Meets Venice Beach [National Geographic]

TLC’s Bakery Boss: Trouble at Kosher Bakery Violets [TLC]

Dessert – Downtown DC kosher deli Elis gets new location: “Eli’s Restaurant customers can let out a sigh of relief. The D.C. kosher staple will stay open and has found a new location at 2142 L Street, N.W. As soon as word got out last month that the popular kosher eatery, which attracts many government workers and politicians, would be torn down, a petition was initiated on Change.org vying to keep the restaurant open. The petition, which received over 400 signatures, wanted Eli’s owners to know “how important it is that they find a new location in DC and continue to serve the downtown Jewish community.” “[The Jewish community] is thrilled they’re staying open,” said Rabbi Barry Freundel of Kesher Israel in Georgetown. “We wish them every success. It’s a good day.”

–Washington media consultant Steve Rabinowitz was also pleased to hear Eli’s would remain open, as there aren’t many options for kosher meat eaters downtown. “You walk into Eli’s and there are always a lot of different groups of people,” he said. “Like me, they may want to be able to have a burger.” Eli’s menu aims to serve meat eaters and vegetarians alike, providing items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, corned beef sandwiches, veggie burgers, soups and salads. “It’s really important to the community to have places like that,” Rabinowitz said. “It would be a terrible loss if there wasn’t.” The restaurant, which opened in 2004, was previously located in the DuPont Circle area of N and 20th streets, N.W. D.C.’s other kosher eatery, Distrikt Bistro, is located at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center.” [Washington Jewish Week]

Thats all folks, have a great Thursday! 

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