As the discussion over the Obama – Israel relationship continues, with Tom Friedman’s column as the latest installment, Yaacov Lozowick offers a crucial point that ought to be obvious, but is overlooked. That American Jews (even (especially?)) those serving in the White House aren’t a reliable bellwether for what Israelis will think and do in reaction to President Obama’s proposals.

It is through this lens that one can also understand why American Orthodox Jews are more upset with the President’s policies than others – as surveys, such as that conducted annually by the American Jewish Committee have shown, Orthodox Jews identify as feeling “very close” to Israel in much higher proportion than do others.

We are the bellwether in this way.

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