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SPOTLIGHT — “Mega-donor Adelson, with access and influence, scores two pro- Israel victories” by Peter Stone: “These are heady days for casino billionaire and megadonor Sheldon Adelson… Adelson was in Jerusalem… for a celebration of the U.S. embassy’s relocation to that city… And the day after [Trump’s Iran deal] announcement, Adelson quietly slipped into the White House for a private meeting with Trump and three top administration officials: Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and an Adelson favorite, National Security Adviser John Bolton, according to two conservative sources familiar with the previously unreported private event…”

“The White House actions partially are testament to Adelson’s clout and that of like-minded pro-Israel conservatives, many observers believe. Mel Sembler, a fellow board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition and a former fundraising chair of the Republican National Committee, thinks Adelson’s influence was palpable. “I’d say he was an important factor in all these decisions,” said Sembler.” [McClatchyDC]

“Guatemala opens embassy in Jerusalem, two days after U.S. move” by Jeffrey Heller: “Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the embassy’s opening on Wednesday in an office complex in West Jerusalem. “It’s not a coincidence that Guatemala is opening its embassy in Jerusalem right among the first. You were always among the first. You were the second country to recognize Israel,” Netanyahu said.” [Reuters]

SPOTTED: Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, accompanied by Israel Hayom editor-in-chief Boaz Bismuth arriving at the Guatemala Embassy ceremony [Pic]

2018 WATCH — “Amid Debate and Violence, Trump Delivers Embassy Victory to Christian Base” by Elizabeth Dias: “For the religious right, opening an American Embassy in Jerusalem is as significant as when Mr. Trump nominated Neil M. Gorsuch as a Supreme Court Justice… Leaders of the Christian conservative movement are planning their largest midterm election mobilization ever, and warning the president’s base that they cannot afford to be complacent in November, as opposition to Mr. Trump surges on the left. The opening of the embassy in Jerusalem gives the movement another accomplishment with which to energize their base. “Because of this decision and exiting the flawed Iran nuclear deal, Trump will be rewarded with continued strong support from evangelicals in 2018 and 2020,” [Ralph] Reed said.”

“Sensing opportunity, candidates in some hotly contested races participated in the festivities in Israel on Monday. At a private breakfast, Rick Scott, the Republican governor of Florida, who is running to unseat the incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, met with supporters and the mayors of Judea and Samaria. “Rick Scott helped himself a lot here,” Mr. Reed said.” [NYTimes]

DRIVING THE CONVO — “Israel, U.S. criticized for Palestinian deaths in Gaza clashes as death toll rises” by Carol Morello, Loveday Morris and Karen DeYoung: “Israel and the United States came under harsh, global criticism Tuesday as both countries defended Israel’s use of live ammunition against Palestinians protesting at the Gaza border… State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the misery endured by Gazans, who have the world’s highest unemployment rate and are largely cut off from the rest of the world, is entirely the fault of Hamas. “We have seen how Hamas continues to incite violence,” she said.” [WashPost]

“A House Divided: Gaza Violence and Embassy Divides American Lawmakers” by Amir Tibon: “As Israel and the Trump administration celebrated the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem on Monday – and as the army killed dozens of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border – reactions in D.C. signaled the growing divide between Republicans and Democrats on Israeli-Palestinian policy.” [Haaretz]

“Democrats conspicuously absent from Israeli embassy’s DC party” by Eric Cortellessa: “I can only imagine that they would want members of Congress who would be completely supportive of the embassy move and uncritical of the violence taking place in Gaza,” said one Jewish Democratic House member who said they were not invited… The House member said the embassy party seemed like a tough place for Democrats to be at such a fraught time. “I would imagine that would be a difficult environment for Democrats to be in if there’s a mood of celebration with respect to the embassy move and complete indifference to the loss of Palestinian lives in Gaza.” [ToI]

INBOX — The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) in a statement: “We condemn the loss of life in recent days and urge calm and restraint, while supporting Israel’s right to self-defense against terrorism and threats to its borders.”

“Cuomo postpones Israel trip” by Jimmy Vielkind: “Gov. Andrew Cuomo is postponing his planned trip to Israel amid ongoing violence on its border with Gaza, his spokeswoman said. Cuomo, a Democrat seeking a third term in a contested race, said last week that he hoped to travel to Israel to show solidarity after forces allied with Iran launched missiles into the northern part of the Middle East nation. “Last week after missiles were fired toward the Golan Heights, Governor Cuomo announced a trip to visit the area and meet with Israeli leadership,” Cuomo spokeswoman Dani Lever, said in a statement. “Israel is now engaged on multiple fronts, including significant hostility and loss of life on the Gaza border… We will continue to monitor the situation and will visit in the coming weeks when the active on-the-ground conflict abates and Governor Cuomo can visit both the Golan Heights area and the Gaza border.”[Politico]

NYPOST Editorial… “When times get too tough for Andrew Cuomo’s friendship: Cuomo had pointed to the need for “showing up at a time of trouble as a sign of solidarity.” Plus, he had no problem heading over in 2014 (another election year) amid even more deadly fighting with Hamas. It seems a governor who has always expressed unhesitating support for Israel now prefers to get some distance from the bloody pictures flashed on the world’s TV screens. Cuomo, after all, is facing a challenge this year from his left flank — and eyeing a 2020 White House run in a Democratic Party that is just galloping away from the Jewish state.” [NYPost]

Stu Loeser tells us: “I know the Cuomo team wanted to go, but worried about being a distraction in terms of resources. I also know that the Israelis never tell people not to come visit, but it is clear that they have a lot of security issues to deal with right now and don’t need more.”

Former Ambassador Daniel Shapiro emails us… “Democratic support for Israel, its legitimacy and security, and the U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong. There are some voices in the party that challenge those positions — which is different from legitimate criticism of specific Israeli policies from committed friends — but they are not dominant. People like me, who continue to believe those positions serve U.S. interests, are committed to maintaining them. The current Administration certainly has the ability to set a more bipartisan, inclusive tone on matters related to Israel, but that doesn’t seem to be its MO. Nothing about the Jerusalem embassy ceremony suggested they care about that. Its supporters should call on them to do better.”

“And the Israeli government has responsibilities here as well.  It’s one thing to appreciate Trump’s policies that they agree with and forge a close working relationship with his team. That’s obviously fine. But when they embrace such a divisive figure in hyperbolic terms, when they seem to walk away from even keeping the prospect of a two-state solution alive, when they expand settlements in ways that would make it impossible, when they show disrespect to non-Orthodox American Jews and their values, they risk alienating important bases of support in the United States, and make the work of Democrats like me who are committed to this relationship harder.  There is a pendulum in American politics. The bilateral relationship is best served when the Israeli government works as closely as possible with the sitting Administration, and maintains connections and shows sensitivity to the views of the other party, who will eventually be back in power.”

Brookings Senior Fellow Tamara Cofman Wittes: “I don’t think the embassy opening says anything about Dems’ attitudes. They weren’t invited; that’s a decision by the administration. And there was only one member of Congress (D or R) that I could see at the DC reception because it was a Monday night and they were back in their districts, so that’s not evidence of anything either.”

HEARD LAST NIGHT — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on CBS Evening News with Jeff Glor: “I wish that it wouldn’t have happened at all. I mean, Hamas is pushing people with a view of a massive infiltration into Israel, openly declaring their goal is to destroy Israel. They’re paying these people. They’re pushing civilians, women, children into the line of fire with the view of getting casualties. We try to minimize casualties. They’re trying to incur casualties in order to put pressure on Israel, which is horrible… I don’t know of any army that would do anything differently if you had to protect your border against people who say, “We’re gonna destroy you. And we’re gonna flood into your country.”

Glor: Do you see peace in your lifetime? Netanyahu: “I see it already now. We have peace with Egypt. We have peace with Jordan.” Glor: Peace with the Palestinians? Netanyahu: “Yes. I think it’s possible. Not with those Palestinians like Hamas, who call for a destruction. But I see peace with any one of our neighbors who’s willing to live in peace, I think yes. I think it’s possible.”[Video]

Netanyahu in an interview with Vice News Tonight: “It’s time to tell Palestinians: Abandon your fantasy of destroying Israel. Abandon the fantasy that says Israel will disappear. It will not.” [Video] • Netanyahu also showed off the exploded parts of downed Iranian drone [Video]

HEARD THIS MORNING — Alan Dershowitz on Fox & Friends: “[Netanyahu] is desperately trying to figure out ways to reduce the number of casualties because he knows, and everybody knows, that every time Israel inadvertently kills an innocent person it loses; it loses its moral high ground, it loses amongst its own people, and yet the media encourages it. And he’s trying to develop non-lethal ways of doing this, and there are many in the works, but it will take some time.” [Video]

“How Gaza Became Hell on Earth” by Neri Zilber: “Putting the Gazan people through another war—after three in the last nine years—was difficult to countenance. Abbas was playing a cynical game of power politics and appeared unmoved. The current Israeli government was unwilling to countenance taking serious steps—a port, a lifting of the blockade, a long-term truce—without reciprocal meaningful steps by Hamas… So the Islamist movement latched on to a grassroots protest movement, the brainchild of one young man on Facebook, and eventually co-opted it.” [DailyBeast]

Jonathan Schanzer writes… “Palestinian Nationalism Is at Its Lowest Point Ever: The Israelis would like nothing more than to see an end to this crisis. It’s terrible PR during what has otherwise been a proud national moment. It’s also a grim reminder of the fact that enemies are still quite literally at their gate, even after two weeks of consecutive and conclusive military and diplomatic victories. Perhaps even more disheartening to decision makers, it’s a sign that the Palestinian problem persists, despite Israel’s attempts to focus on more pressing matters… Interestingly, despite the current despondency, or perhaps because of it, there is a sense of possible opportunity. The West Bank government is irrelevant. The Gaza government is collapsing. The Palestinians need a way out of all this. And so do the Israelis.” [Tablet]

Joe Truzmah: “Well known Saudi writer explains why Palestinians are having difficulty finding support. – “If your opposition to the occupation was right, no one would have hesitated to stand by you..but this is an Iranian exercise that #Hamas is implementing at the expense of Gaza’s children.” [Twitter]

“Greenblatt in Qatar to discuss Gaza and Trump’s peace plan” by Seth Frantzman: “US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt met with Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Wednesday to discuss the Trump administration’s upcoming peace plan. He tweeted that he also met with Qatar’s Gaza emissary to discuss the need for humanitarian support for Gaza.” [JPost]

TURTLE BAY — “Nikki Haley says Israel has acted with ‘restraint’ in Gaza and then walks out of UN as Palestinian envoy begins speaking” by John Haltiwanger: “US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Tuesday defended Israel’s use of force against Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza and walked out of a UN Security Council session as Palestine’s envoy, Riyad Mansour, began to speak. “Who among us would accept this type of activity on your border?” Haley said… “No country in this chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has.” … Haley claimed Hamas is “pleased with the results from yesterday.” [BusinessInsider]

— “Nikki Haley honored with rare artifact for aiding US embassy move” by Ariane Mandell: “Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon… presented Haley with an ancient coin from the Great Revolt of 68 CE, with a personal dedication that read: “This is a historic day for Israel and the United States. I thank you, Ambassador Haley, for your strong support of this great move.”” [JPost]

“Palestinians recall envoy from Washington over embassy move” by Barak Ravid: “Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to recall the head of the PLO office in Washington in protest over the opening of the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem… This move further deepens the crisis between the U.S. and the Palestinian Authority… The Palestinian boycott makes the White House ambition to launch a peace plan and new round of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in the upcoming months much more difficult to achieve.” [Axios]

“Turkey Invites Press to Film Ousted Israeli Envoy Frisked at Airport” by Noa Landau: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the only remaining Turkish representative in Israel to a meeting on Wednesday to protest the security check Israel’s ambassador to Turkey was subjected to upon leaving the country… Turkish media was invited to cover the departure of [Eitan] Naeh, who was subjected to what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as a harsh and humiliating security check… To retaliate, the press was invited to witness the Turkish representative, Umut Deniz, arrive for his hearing in Tel Aviv. When Deniz arrived at the Foreign Ministry, he was asked to hand over his passport.” [Haaretz]

— Erdoğan receives anti-Zionist Jewish group in London: “President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received members of the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta International organization… in London on Tuesday.” [DailySabah] 

IRAN DEAL — “Europe adopts defiant stance in attempt to save Iran nuclear deal” by Michael Birnbaum: “The European Union’s chief diplomat took a defiant stance Tuesday after meeting with Iran’s foreign minister and other top European diplomats to try to salvage the Iran nuclear deal… Comparing the 2015 nuclear agreement to “a relative in intensive care,” Mogherini said ideas under consideration include plans to deepen Europe’s economic relationship with Iran, shield banking transactions with Tehran, keep purchasing Iranian oil and gas, and use E.U. financing for investments there… British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson warned Tuesday that Washington’s sanctions may be able to strike around the world… “We have to be realistic about the electrified rail, the live wire of American extraterritoriality, and how that can serve as a deterrent to business,” he said.” [WashPost; Bloomberg]

“US hits head of Iran’s central bank with terror sanctions” by Josh Lederman: “Valiollah Seif, the governor of the Iranian central bank, was named a “specially designated global terrorist” along with another senior official, Ali Tarzali, who works in the central bank’s international division… Seif, whose role is equivalent to the Federal Reserve chairman in the U.S., oversees major financial decisions in Iran. Any transactions that involve his signature could potentially run afoul of the sanctions.” [AP]

Politico/Morning Consult poll: “While a majority of voters say they support the agreement — 54 percent support it, 28 percent oppose it — 37 percent say the U.S. and Trump made the right decision in withdrawing from the agreement. Slightly more, 40 percent, say Trump and the U.S. made the wrong decision.” [Politico]

INTERVIEW — Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) discussed the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran deal in an interview with Jewish Insider’s Jacob Kornbluh in Jerusalem: “I was glad the President did what he did. I sat with the Treasury Secretary on Sunday at dinner and we talked about some of the new sanctions the administration is going to put on Iran. I think financial institutions are just as big of a fighting tool as weapons and boots on the ground, and I do believe that this administration is going to do everything it can to avoid missiles, ammunition, and boots on the ground because they think they can get this done through sanctions. I would support the administration moving forward on what they are going to try to do to get Iran back to the table if we put together something that works better. I also believe that our European allies will come to the table now that they have seen this President and the strength that he has in willing to take the necessary steps to renegotiate this deal.”

Heller on Trump’s policy against Iranian presence in Syria: “Iran is doing everything they possibly can to ramp up their ability to attack a state like Israel. I am concerned, and I think that this administration will stand strong. I know Lindsey Graham has been talking to the President, Ted Cruz has been talking to the President, and I have been talking to the President about maintaining some kind of presence in Syria only because of the concern that we will have Iran completely taking over Syria.” [JewishInsider]

Tom Friedman writes… “Trump’s Dream Come True: Trashing Obama and Iran in One Move: To his credit, Trump has drawn attention to Iranian misbehavior in ways the Europeans never have. Israel gets censured for implanting settlements deep into the West Bank… But the Iranians have gotten away with murder, mass murder, at home and abroad — with virtually no censure… But Trump wanted to crush both Obama and Iran, and so he trashed the whole deal.” [NYTimes]

“A Reckoning for Obama’s Foreign-Policy Legacy” by Eliot Cohen: “Which should lead to some reflection by the veterans and supporters of the Obama administration, who find themselves almost daily mortified by the repudiation and dismantling of all their hard work. They are learning a hard lesson: that policies constructed by executive order and executive agreement are just as easily blown up by them… They deserve their mortification, in part because, while in office, they thought they could treat constitutional requirements and everyone else’s opinions with contempt… Trump is a force—he has real demagogic talents. He is, as well, a symptom of deeper problems and perversities in the American body politic. But he is also, in part, a consequence of the tone and style as well as the policy substance of his predecessor.”[TheAtlantic]

** 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 [email protected] **

BUSINESS BRIEFS: David Einhorn’s Greenlight takes on stakes in Office Depot and Abercrombie [CNBC] • Elliott Wins Allies in Blocking Hyundai Motor’s Restructure Plan [Bloomberg] • Lemonade wants to rewrite the insurance policy itself [TechCrunch] • Lightstone near deal to acquire $53M Bronx portfolio [RealDeal] • Kushner family buys hotel at Jersey shore as it continues to expand N.J. portfolio [NJAdvance] • Obamacare startup Oscar will expand to new states, CEO says [CrainsNewYork] • Israel’s BrainQ raises $5.3M to treat neurological disorders with the help of AI [TechCrunch] • Moonves Sets Stage for Final Showdown With Redstone Family [Bloomberg] • Saban Picks Up Nicolas Cage Thriller ‘Between Worlds’ [HollywoodReporter]

 “Michael Bloomberg launches China-linked rival to Davos” by Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson: “Michael Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, is launching a rival to the World Economic Forum’s annual gatherings in Davos, aimed at addressing a changed global order in which China’s rise challenges the primacy of the US. The financial data billionaire has enlisted two long-term China watchers, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former US Treasury secretary Hank Paulson, to design the New Economy Forum… The forum will hold its first two-day meeting in Beijing in November… Bloomberg said it would keep the guest list to 400 people.” [FinancialTimes]

PODCAST PLAYBACK — Guy Rolnik, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, discussed Israel’s political, diplomatic and security situation with Bradley Tusk on the Firewall podcast:

Tusk: The political chaos in Israel is meaningful. Netanyahu is under serious corruption investigations and could face charges, and at the same time it’s really hard to come up with solutions that work in terms of the Palestinian situation. There’s the need of constantly being aggressive with countries like Iran or Syria, and they still get along globally. It feels like, depending on your perspective, Israel is either soaring or struggling. How do you see it?

Rolnik: “Let’s start with the Israeli economy. Israel’s economy is doing very well, and we are not embroiled in the financial crisis like the U.S., UK, and many other countries. We started a series of reforms in Israel that made our economy more resilient, and this is why we didn’t have to bail out banks… and actually the balance sheet of Israel as an economy is now at its peak… And, of course, we have a thriving hi-tech and start-up industry. Now, having said that, we huge political problems that are mounting in the last three years… It’s like the U.S. in many way. The kind of political debate that we have seen here after the election of Trump, you see the exact same phenomena in Israel. Politics has turned into pro-Bibi or anti-Bibi…”

“Netanyahu is involved in a few corruption cases, we will see whether he is indicted or not. And, by the way, two of the cases deal specifically with regulatory capture… but when I look what is happening in Israel, I think Israel actually is doing much better than it was 10 years ago because we exposed a lot of those things. The reason there is so much discussion about those issues in Israel is because people in Israel have woken up and now politicians have to be accountable for those issues. I don’t think that Israel is more corrupt than most OECD countries… or the United States. I think that Israelis care a lot more about those issues today than in the past.” [SoundCloud]

TALK OF THE TOWN — “Betsy DeVos Sparks Ire For Skipping Public Schools During New York Visit” by Leslie Brody: “U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos made her first visit to a New York City school while in office on Tuesday, touring an Orthodox Jewish school for girls on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. She plans to see a boys’ yeshiva on Wednesday. Mrs. DeVos’s decision to skip public schools in the nation’s largest district, with 1.1 million students, upset some public-school advocates… During several hours inside the Manhattan High School for Girls, Mrs. DeVos came “to learn a little bit more about Jewish education in the city,” said Nate Bailey, her spokesman… David Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, said Tuesday marked the secretary’s first visit to an Orthodox school… Mrs. DeVos visited classes on science and Jewish law, and looked in on a project where students trace their genealogy back to the Holocaust era, Mr. Zwiebel said.” [WSJ] 

“These Jewish groups are fighting — even physically, according to some — behind the scenes” by Ron Kampeas: “Three Jewish organizations — the National Council of Jewish Women, the Anti-Defamation League and HIAS — accused the Zionist Organization of America of inappropriately criticizing them; in turn, the ZOA filed complaints against member groups that have yet to be scheduled for hearings. The complaints range from differences as picayune as who is responsible for anti-Zionist signs at a mass rally to intimations of corrupt intent to allegations of violence.” [JTA]

Spike Lee blasts Donald Trump over Charlottesville: “Lee spoke to reporters Tuesday after his “BlacKkKlansman” premiered Monday night at Cannes to a rousing standing ovation. The 1979-set film, loosely based on a true story, is about black police detective Ron Stallworth (played by John David Washington, Denzel’s son) and a Jewish detective (Adam Driver) who together infiltrated a Ku Klux Klan cell in Colorado.” [PageSix] 

SPORTS BLINK — “Meet the future owner of NFL’s Carolina Panthers. He called Trump ‘the father of lies'” by Eli Rosenberg: “The NFL could soon welcome a new owner: David Tepper, a hedge fund founder, recently agreed to purchase the Carolina Panthers for about $2.2 billion, which would be the highest price ever paid for an NFL team. The sale has yet to be approved by the league or the team’s 32 owners, at least 24 of whom must approve for the deal to go through… Forbes estimates that as of May 2018 Tepper is worth $11 billion, calling him “arguably the greatest hedge fund manager of his generation. Tepper keeps a set of brass testicles in his office, according to a 2010 profile in New York magazine. Tepper grew up near Pittsburgh in a Jewish household.” [WashPost; NYTimes]

“Jami Gertz is the real winner of the NBA Draft Lottery” by Jaclyn Hendricks: “The wife of Atlanta Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler, Gertz, 52, best known for her roles in “The Lost Boys,” “Less Than Zero” and “Square Pegs,” took on a new part as the team’s representative in Chicago. “A lot of pressure,” Gertz said Tuesday, per the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. “And I’ve had a lot of pressure in my life. I’ve done live theater. You’ve got to come up with the goods night after night, which is a lot of pressure. Tony Ressler seems to feel like I’m his gal. We got one life. Why not be the one who gets to be a lottery-pick?” [NYPost; AJC] 

DESSERT — “Celebrity chef Eyal Shani goes kosher” by Gloria Deutsch: “As we walked through the glass doors of Malka, the buzz was almost tangible, and not a spare table was to be seen… Our waiter… explained that the idea behind Malka was to bring the up-to-date Tel Aviv culture to the kosher-eating crowd – locally grown produce and free-range animals, which are already standard concepts in the non-kosher restaurants… My first course was Bellini soused herring with aioli (NIS 47). This was chunks of schmaltz herring resting on a kind of crepe with a garlicky sauce and plenty of red onion… The herring was the kind usually found in synagogue kiddushes.” [JPost]

“Boichik Bagels pop-up goes brick-and-mortar at original Noah’s location” by Alix Wall: “The owner of Boichik Bagels, the pop-up that is trying to bring a real New York bagel to the Bay Area, has signed a contract to open her first East Bay brick-and-mortar shop in an incredibly auspicious location. And the store may even end up being kosher… Boichik Bagels will open later this year in the storefront of the original Noah’s, on College Avenue near Alcatraz in Berkeley. “This was the first New York-themed bagel experience in the Bay Area, and now 29 years later, the New York bagel will rise again,” said owner Emily Winston.” [JWeekly] 

BIRTHDAYS: Real estate developer, Charles Kushner turns 64… Real estate mogul, Aby J. Rosen turns 58… Chairman of NBC News and MSNBC, Andrew Lack turns 71… Businessman and former CEO of Warner Music Group, Edgar Bronfman Jr. turns 63… Special Assistant to VPOTUS Walter Mondale (1977-1981), later Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (1989-1993), Bernard W. Aronson turns 72… Longest serving member of the New York State Assembly (since 1971), his district includes portions of Midtown Manhattan and the Upper West Side, Richard N. Gottfried turns 71… Member of the House of Representatives since 2013, representing Florida’s 21st congressional district, previously Mayor of West Palm Beach (2003-2011), Lois Frankel turns 70… Harvard history professor, a member of the Rothschild banking family of England, Emma Georgina Rothschild turns 70…

Proto-punk singer, songwriter and guitarist, Jonathan Richman turns 64… Film and stage actress, noted for “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982) and “Terms of Endearment” (1983), Debra Winger turns 63… President of Tribe Media, publisher and editor of Jewish Journal, David Suissa… Esther Bushey turns 57… Social entrepreneur, independent scholar and local civic leader, earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from UCSB, co-founder of non-profit Jumpstart, Jonathan Shawn Landres turns 46… Actress, television personality and author, Victoria Davey (Tori) Spelling turns 45… Author, actor and host of Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, Adam Richman turns 44… Attorney Drew Shenkman turns 36… Communications director at America Rising PAC, Jeff Bechdel turns 32 (h/ts Playbook)… Lake Worth, Florida resident, Harriet L. Caplan…