briefs Eric Lynn, one-time Obama campaign Jewish liaison, launches bid for Congress Eric Lynn, a former liaison between the Obama presidential campaign and the Jewish community, is running for Congress in Florida. Lynn, a 36-year-old Democrat, launched a challenge against the Republican incumbent, Rep. David Jolly, in the Tampa-area district. Lynn, who graduated from high school in St. Petersburg, now works in the district as a defense industry consultant. Lynn once served as an intern at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Jolly is considered vulnerable. He won the district in 2014 following the death of longtime incumbent Republican Rep. C.W. Bill Young, but the district favored Obama in the 2008 and 2012 elections, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Lynn parlayed his role in 2008 getting out the Jewish vote for Obama into senior advisory jobs in government, first at the State Department and then at the Pentagon. His pitch to voters will emphasize the heavy presence in the district of military bases and families. “I have been profoundly humbled by our brave soldiers, their selflessness and sense of duty,” Lynn said in his first fundraising letter. “I could never match them, but I’d like to bring a dose of ‘country first’ to Congress.” (JTA) Kerry and top negotiator meet Jewish leaders to discuss Iran deal Top Obama administration officials met for two hours with U.S. Jewish community leaders to discuss the emerging Iran nuclear deal. Represented at the April 8 meeting were Secretary of State John Kerry and his undersecretary, Wendy Sherman, who is leading the U.S. side in the nuclear talks. On the Jewish organizational side, representatives of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the Orthodox, Reform and Conservative streams were present. A State Department official said the meeting was part of the administration’s regular outreach to various civil society
groups in the United States. Kerry, the official told JTA, discussed “the U.S.-Israel relationship and the latest developments in our negotiations with the EU, P5+1 and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program.” P5+1 refers to the countries negotiating with Iran, including the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. Kerry stayed for an hour in the room, which was cleared of leavened goods in honor of Passover week, and Sherman remained for an additional hour. The Jewish officials present would not describe the content of the off-the-record meeting, but they did say that they raised concerns about the deal. “Both the secretary and the undersecretary articulated with depth, rigor and passion the deal and explained it,” one Jewish official said. “There was an opportunity for real engagement. Secretary Kerry was reaching out to those who need more engagement and convincing.” The deal outline presented earlier this month by Iran and the major powers exchanges sanctions relief for restrictions aimed at keeping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Israel and a number of Jewish groups have expressed concerns about the degree of the sanctions relief and whether the structures in place go far enough to keep Iran from achieving nuclear capability. (JTA)
Heirs of Nazi victim to get compensation from sale of looted Monet The heirs of a French Jewish art dealer killed in a Nazi concentration camp will get a piece of the upcoming sale at Christie’s of a Monet painting looted by the Nazis and acquired after the war by a Swiss collector. The painting, Haystacks at Giverny, was painted by Claude Monet in 1885 and is estimated to be worth $12 million to $18 million. Haystacks, one of several similar paintings of a pasture near the artist’s French home, was acquired by Rene Gimpel, a French art dealer associated with the intellectual elite of his time and a frequent visitor to Monet’s home, according to The New York Times. After the outbreak of World War II, Gimpel was detained by the Nazi-allied Vichy government in France and shipped off to the Neuengamme concentration
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camp, where he died. Gimpel’s grandson, who also is named Rene Gimpel and is an art dealer, believes his grandfather was forced to sell the Monet under duress, according to the Times. The artwork surfaced in Geneva during the war and eventually ended up in the hands of a private Swiss collector. Under the terms of a restitution agreement, the elder Gimpel’s heirs will receive an undisclosed amount from the auction house sale, which is to take place in May. Gimpel told the Times that his family has reached restitution agreements on two other artworks that had belonged to his grandfather. (JTA)
Sabra recalls classic hummus due to possible contamination The Sabra Dipping Company recalled 30,000 cases of its classic hummus due to a possible listeria contamination. The hummus tested positive for the food-borne bacteria listeria monocytogenes, which is potentially fatal and can affect the elderly, pregnant women, babies and those with compromised immune systems. No one has become ill from the Sabra hummus, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The voluntary recall was announced on April 9. The bacteria were discovered during a routine, random sample collected at a retail location on March 30 by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Sabra company said. Those with questions should call (888) 957-2272. (JTA) Putin lifts ban on Russian air defense missile sales to Iran President Vladimir Putin of Russia lifted a ban on the sale of an advanced Russian missile defense system that could reinforce Iran’s defense of its nuclear facilities. A statement released by the Kremlin said that Putin signed a decree to remove the ban on Monday, April 13. The move signals that Russia is greatly interested in reaping profits from the resumption of international trade with Iran should a final deal be reached, The New York Times reported. Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said that the framework deal signed by world powers and Iran earlier this month in Lausanne,
Switzerland, made the ban obsolete. Russia agreed to sell Iran the S-300 defense system in 2007, but strong opposition from the United States and Israel blocked the sale. Moscow was also prevented from selling Iran the missile system in 2010 after new U.N. sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program prohibited the exchange. Secretary of State John Kerry in a phone call to Lavrov expressed U.S. opposition to Russia’s intentions to sell the missiles. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the sale could endanger the realization of a deal that lifts sanctions on Iran. (JTA)
Apple purchases Israel-based LinX Imaging Apple has purchased the Israel-based camera technology company LinX Imaging. Apple confirmed the purchase, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Reports put the figure at about $20 million. LinX technology “sets new standards for image quality parameters such as low light performance, HDR, refocusing, color fidelity, shutter lag and more,” according to the company’s website. Its mini-camera hardware also is specifically geared toward tablets and smartphones. (JTA) Ex-girlfriend of billionaire Donald Sterling must return expensive gifts The ex-girlfriend of Donald Sterling must return millions of dollars in gifts from the former Los Angeles Clippers owner. On Tuesday, April 14, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled that V. Stiviano must return to the Sterling Family Trust such items as luxury cars, including a Ferrari and a Bentley, a $1 million home and some $800,000 in cash. Stiviano claimed in court that she was entitled to the gifts because the Sterlings were separated when they were given, but the judge pointed out that the couple did not live apart during that time and were “estranged,” as Shelly Sterling had said during a television interview last year with Barbara Walters. Donald Sterling was forced to sell the Clippers last year and was banned for life and heavily fined by the NBA after he made racist comments to Stiviano that were secretly recorded and made public. (JTA)