Conventional wisdom attributes the broad popular support that Israel enjoys in the US to the power of the Jewish lobby and the intense support for Israel among American Jews. That conventional wisdom, however, misses a great deal.

Concern with Israel's security has long since ceased to preoccupy most American Jews. A recent survey by the Jewish Studies Center of CCNY concludes that of the 5.5 million Americans defined by sociologists as Jewish, half list their religion as "other" or "none."

Not surprisingly, ethnic identity of American Jews is declining rapidly. With little sense of themselves as Jews, most American Jews have little connection to one another, much less to Jews far away.

Even among those with more than a minimal Jewish identity, the Israel connection tends to be fickle. Witness the Reform movement's cancellation of programs last summer and the nearly 50% drop out rate among this year's rabbinical and cantorial students at the Conservative Shechter Institute. A mere 135 foreign students are registered for the Hebrew University's one-year program this year, less than a quarter of the number just two years ago.

When American Jews express opinions on Israel, they often appear to be completely out of touch with events here, and with the vast changes in Israeli public opinion over the past year. A recent survey conducted by Jewish groups close to the Clinton administration claims, mirable dictu, that 85% of American Jews want the US to return to the activist role of the Clinton years - 75% even if it leads to confrontations between Israel and the States.

While those numbers must be taken with a grain of salt, the remarkable thing is that they reflect absolutely no change in light of the events of the past year. The sole exception to this bleak general picture is the American Orthodox community. At the typical Israel Day Parade, a large majority of the participants will be wearing knitted kippot and long skirts. Already 20 years ago, historian Lucy Dawidowicz observed that only the Orthodox vote reflects great concern for Jewish interests, among which the security of Jews in Israel is paramount.

Nor is Orthodox support limited to sending checks. Despite a year of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks, there has actually been a slight increase in the enrollment of American post-high school students registered in yeshivas and seminaries in Israel.

Over 5,000 single young Orthodox Americans have come this year to study at these institutions, and thousands more young married men are continuing their yeshiva studies.

All this is not to say that the Jewish lobby does not play an important role in Washington, or that American Jewish philanthropy is not vital to Israel. AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbying groups are feared, if not always loved, on Capitol Hill. Any politician with national ambitions must consider the heavy concentration of Jews in states rich in electoral votes, and the wildly disproportionate Jewish money contributed to campaigns.

But while Jewish votes assure that New York's senators will always be demonstrably pro-Israel, those votes cannot begin to explain the broad consensus of congressional support for Israel and the consistently positive feelings toward Israel of the general American population.

Many of Israel's staunchest supporters in Congress have traditionally come from states with small Jewish populations: e.g., Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, Senator Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas, Attorney-General John Ashcroft, formerly a senator from Missouri; and House Majority Whip Tom DeLay. Far from being supported by the mainstream Jewish community, these men are often anathematized by Jewish groups for their social conservatism. On a host of issues, from school prayer to aid to educational tax vouchers to abortion, they consistently line up on the opposite side from the organized Jewish community.

These men support Israel not because of the mainstream Jewish community, but despite it. Their views are shaped by their own consciences and reflect the consensus of their overwhelmingly Christian constituents.

Devout Christians constitute the bedrock of American support for Israel. Such Christians number in the tens of millions. Unlike American Jews, they are not embarrassed by criticisms of Israel in certain left-wing circles, and do not cancel tours to Israel after each terrorist incident.

Even a casual survey of the letters to the editor of The Jerusalem Post reveals how avidly many American Christians follow events in Israel. Mindful of the crucial importance of devout Christians, AIPAC employed an evangelical Christian as its chief lobbyist for years.

Orthodox Jews constitute a potentially vital link to the fundamentalist community. They find it easy to talk to believers of other religions. "God talk" does not give them the willies; they also talk like that.

Christian supporters of Israel open up their Bibles and read that Israel is the Promised Land, promised to the Jews. The God-intoxicated Jews they read about in the Bible observe strict dietary laws, honor the Sabbath, and are bound by strict codes of sexual morality.

The Jews of the Bible, however, bear little resemblance to those the average American Christian is likely to see on TV or read about, who are likely to be found at the forefront of every movement of sexual liberation.

Given the image of Jews as the least religious segment of the American population, Christians who take the Bible seriously are bound to ask themselves: Do the Jews of the Bible - the ones to whom the Land was promised - still exist?

Similar questions about the connection between Jews of today and those of the Bible are aroused by the apparent indifference of so many modern Jews to the sanctity of the Land and even to the most important historical sites of their religion, like Rachel's Tomb and the Temple Mount.

Israel's Christian friends are thrilled when they meet Jews who take seriously the Bible's commandments and who continue to cherish the Temple Mount as the place where the Divine Presence dwelt. A visible Orthodox community thus serves as an important corrective to Christian stereotypes about godless Jews.

Orthodox Jews are Israel's secret weapon in the war for American public opinion. They constitute, as a group, Israel's most committed supporters within the American Jewish community. And they serve as a crucial link between Israel and its strongest Christian supporters.

Not surprisingly, ethnic identity of American Jews is declining rapidly. With little sense of themselves as Jews, most American Jews have little connection to one another, much less to Jews far away.

For the most part, American Jewry is heavily concentrated in a few small states and cities. In those areas, there are Jewish schools, community centers, civic groups for youth and adults, food stores, etc., and many Temple choices--Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed. In those places, it is much easier for adults and children to be immersed in Jewish tradition, religion and life.

But in the rest of the country, it's not unusual for a Jewish family to be one of only a handful in the entire town, having to travel for miles to find connection to a Temple and other integral parts of Jewish life.

I know this from personal experience. In the small town in southern NJ where I grew up, there was only ONE Jewish family in the entire town of about 15,000 people. In the eastern PA community where I now reside, there is a very large Jewish population with all the amenities I cited above. Much easier to be steeped in, and steep your children in, the Jewish Law and tradition. In my present community, you would be hard-pressed to find a Jewish HS senior who has not been to Israel at least once.

The sole exception to this bleak general picture is the American Orthodox community.

Well surprise, surprise.

But while Jewish votes assure that New York's senators will always be demonstrably pro-Israel,

Oh, sure, like 'FJB' terrorist-coddlin' Mrs. Arafat kissin' Hillary.

Christian supporters of Israel open up their Bibles and read that Israel is the Promised Land, promised to the Jews.

Sad, but the 'Mosaic veil' stills cover the eyes of most US Christians. The 'promised land' promise was fulfilled according to the Old Testament Scriptures. Joshua 21: 43 -45 states it very clearly.

I find no place in Scripture where this promise was in perpetuity. Disobedience to the I AM has left them spirituality bankrupt. I know, I know, you will quote the prophets to me about their promised return to the Land. That has already taken place as well. See the writings of Ezra and Nehemiah.

But now the "New Covenant" has come through Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. All who receive him in faith are brought into all of the promises made to Abraham. In fact, the Apostle Paul - a Jew himself - stated that all who believe in Jesus Christ are in fact the "sons" of Abraham. Wow, think of that. I am a Jew and now, by faith, inhabit the new Jerusalem, which is from above. See the book of Galatians and Hebrews of the New Testament if you have any doubts.

Irrevocable Promise -- Like a Constitution

I did look, it did say forever. Moreover, the Jewish Apostle added,

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness?

Not at all!

Perhaps this confussion over, "for all time", is why US Christians tolerate the changing of their constitution. That is an act of war.

As a warning, what does it mean when he says, the unnatural branches can be removed?

How true it is. I have been saying for months its the orthodox who are on the right side of things. Since the majority of jews are your scum of the crop like schumer, leiberman, wechsler, boxer, fienstein, dershowitz and the ones in the limelight. The orthodox jews, like myself get blackballed with the rest of them.

The real difference is that we aren't like them. The orthodox vote for whats right. Not what our heart tells us. And if you want to use LIEberman as an example, we know he is a fraud, and has been since he had to comply with gore for the election, and I will never trust him again.

No need to "duck" or don your asbestos suit. Not a bad question from a non-theologian.

However, Paul was not an infiltrator. He was actually "examined" by the Jesrusalem apostles and was told to continue preaching because they din't find anything wrong with his teaching.

The New Covenant was mentioned many years before Paul came on the scene. See Jeremiah chapter 31. And it is mentioned in the New Testament again by someone other than Paul ( the book of Hebrews)

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