MBZ accepts invite to visit Israel + Birthright resumes

✋ Stay Away: GOP leaders are discouraging former President Donald Trump from getting involved in an Illinois House race that will see first-term Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), whose district was eliminated during the redistricting process, mount a primary challenge against either Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) or Rodney Davis (R-IL).

?️ Coming Attractions: TheJewish Museum and Film at Lincoln Center will jointly hold the 31st annual New York Jewish Film Festival — a mix of virtual and in-person programming — Jan. 12-25, 2022.

? Denied: The Supreme Court rejected appeals by health care workers in New York to get exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for religious reasons.

?️ Clipped Wings: The Israeli NSO Group is considering shuttering its controversial Pegasus unit and refinancing or selling off the entire company.

✡️ One Down: Irina Nevzlin withdrew her candidacy from the race for Jewish Agency chair, citing a drawn-out and confusing selection process.

☢️ Timely Talks: White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to visit Israel next week for talks on Iran.

? Wedding Toast: At the Sunday wedding of Ohio real estate executive Brian Schottenstein and Toria Aronoff, held at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump gave a brief speech, noting his support for Israel. “So many of my friends are in this room, and they happen to be Jewish, and they said tonight that no president has done more for Israel than I have. And if that weren’t true, this man [gesturing to Gary Schottenstein, the groom’s father] would come down on me, I would have a big problem, right?”

? Incoming: Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced a plan to import foreign tech workers to fill the labor shortages created by the coronavirus pandemic.

?️ Gaming Gains: Tel Aviv-based VGames has raised a second fund totaling $141 million to invest in game studios.

✈️ No Speed: The U.S. rejected an Israeli request to speed up the delivery of two KC-46 refueling jets out of four purchased, which would assist the Israeli Air Force’s capability to attack Iran’s nuclear program.

?️ To Infinity: Satellite images indicate that Iran is preparing for a space launch at its Imam Khomeini Spaceport amid a renewed focus on space under the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi.

?? Czech Relent: Czech President Milos Zeman is set to approve the government of Prime Minister-designate Petr Fiala following months of delay over Zeman’s objection to the foreign minister nominee Jan Lipavsky for holding a “distant attitude” towards Israel and other European allies.

➡️ Transitions: Ilan Goldenberg began work as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs yesterday, after seven years working for the Center for a New American Security.

?️ Remembering: Lithuanian-born Eda Solome, who survived World War II by hiding from the Nazis in the woods before being hidden by a Polish farmer, died at 100.