Kvetching Points Memo

Things to Kibbitz About Today:

Famed fashion designer Arnold Scaasi passed away last week at the age of 85. A resident of Manhattan, the Hamptons and Palm Beach. Scaasi was born Arnold Isaacs in Montreal, but reversed the spelling of his surname when developing his fashion brand and image. He favored brilliant-hued fabrics and added beads and feathers as trimmings. His most famous creation was perhaps the translucent pantsuit with bell bottom pants and a white collar and cuffs worn by “Funny Girl” Barbra Streisand in 1969. Scaasi’s motto: “It should be fun to get dressed. I like exciting and pretty clothes that help women feel exciting and pretty.”

KIBBITZ: How about the rad name change?

London’s Jewish Chronicle has some questions for Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn has not answered them. Corbyn is expected to become the leader of The Opposition in England should he become Labour’s leader. But Corbyn has been accused presently and in the past for supporting and funding enemies of Israel and Jews. Questions include: (1) Did you donate, as alleged by its founder, to Deir Yassin Remembered (DYR), a group that publishes open anti-Semitism,… (3) Why have you accepted an invitation to appear at a conference on August 22 alongside Carlos Latuff, the notorious anti-Semitic cartoonist? (5) Why do you associate with Hamas and Hezbollah and refer to them as your “friends”?

KIBBITZ: Glad he is in the opposition and not the majority? Also.. did you hear about the 200 British Jews – including 20 rabbis – who signed a letter calling on the Prime Minister Cameron to be more sympathetic to Chunnel/Calais migrants. He called them “swarms.”

The Jews don’t control Hollywood. But 98 movers and shakers of Jewish heritage in Hollywood and LA have taken as ad in the LA Jewish Journal in support of the White House’s Iran Deal. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Matthew Weiner, Eli Broad, Norman Lear and architect Frank Gehry are among those who warn of a “tragic mistake” should Congress kill the Iran agreement. They identify themselves as “American Jewish supporters of Israel” Among the seven lead signatories are billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad; Walt Disney Concert Hall architect Frank Gehry; and legendary TV writer-producer Norman Lear. Other signatories include Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner; film producers Lawrence Bender and Mike Medavoy; UTA agent Peter Benedek; WME agent Rick Rosen; Game of Thrones executive producer Carolyn Strauss; Matthew Velkes, COO of Village Roadshow; Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller; David N. Myers; Rabbi Sharon Brous; Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater; and TV director Daniel Attias.

KIBBITZ: if Streisand and Katzenberg aren’t on the list, then I don’t care. Is Mickey Kantor the John Hancock of the group?

The JewishInsider.com reports that The Hamptons Synagogue (in Westhampton, if you consider that area The Hamptons…) will host TWO candiates for the GOP 2016 presidential nomination: Senators Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham. (Rabbi and) political operative Hank Sheinkopf will interview the guests. Last Shabbat, former New York Governor George Pataki spoke at the Synagogue. After Shabbat, Marlene and Daniel Arbess (former Perella Weinberg) will host Rubio in Sagaponack. On Sunday morning, Rubio will brunch at the Quogue home of Jerry (former Revlon CEO) and Carol Levin in Quogue. (Want a pic with Rubio, cough up $5400, triple chai hundred, baby)

KIBBITZ: Skip the shul that is known for its alcohol and come to the Writers vs. Artists charity softball game, which is known for its beer in Sag Harbor. Less than $20 a head and photo opps are free. Or go to hear JTS head, Rabbi Arnold Eisen at the Bridgehampton’s Conservative Synagogue.

Speaking of contributions, faced with an unmet need for $15 million to operate, the Bergen County Y closed, abruptly, last week, in New Jersey. What began in 1922 as a YMHA/YWHA, and grew and moved as the Jewish community moved, now faced a deficit in Washington Township, and a population that was no into the facilities or able to support it.

KIBBITZ: What do you do with declining interest in Jewish community centers? Merge with the other Y’s

Did you hear that Larry Cohler-Esses – a top editor at The Forward and former teacher of English in Shiraz and Isfahan – got a visa to visit Iran. The first time in 36 years that a journalist for a Jewish publication got a visa. He writes about the experience HERE, and says official Iran doesn’t plan to wipe out Israel, just that it “must vanish from the page of time.”

KIBBITZ: I’ll take his word for it

Senator Schumer is not supporting the Iran Deal. Senator Sanders, Boxer, Feinstein, Franken, and Schatz are supporting the Iran Deal. What is AIPAC to do? ROAD TRIP! The Washington Post reports on the bi-annual AIPAC fling to Israel for members of Congress. The education foundation of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee took new members of Congress to Israel for a week-long tour. 22 Democrats just returned from their “Birthright” trip and 36 Republicans are touring now. “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and opposition leader Isaac “Bougie” Herzog, we were told, “though they made it clear they were not asking anyone to vote a certain way” — absolutely no lobbying here — “laid out their case” about how the Iran deal was a disaster.”

KIBBITZ: I got nothin’