Jonathan, it’s certainly heartening to see that a large percentage of Jews (67 percent) have woken up to Obama’s anti-Israel bent and disapprove of his Middle East policy. Unfortunately, the same pollsters show that 59 percent of Jews still approve of his overall performance. What that tells us is that a large number of Jews just don’t care all that much about Obama’s policy. This, unfortunately, fits with findings of the McLaughlin poll: most Jews, especially Reform Jews, remain extremely liberal and focused on domestic issues. Obama’s given them nationalized health care and is going to deliver another pro-Roe v. Wade Supreme Court justice. So what that he’s anti-Israel. That’s what it comes down to for a very significant segment of American Jews.

This is a huge challenge — how to elevate concern about Israel to a top-tier political issue for American Jewry. It is not merely a political one but one that also should concern our shuls and Jewish educators. If Jews don’t prioritize their concern about Israel, then they cease to be effective advocates for a robust U.S.-Israel relationship, and politicians will quickly learn there is no downside to pummeling the Jewish state.