When Stuart Schoffman’s cover story, Israel at 52, crossed my desk, I found myself surprised at one significant — for me — omission. There was no mention of American Jewry. My feelings were hurt even though I realized it was foolish of me. This was no deliberate slight on his part; no rejection intended. It was not simply a careless slip of the pen. He was reflecting what has seemed evident to me for some years now: We, American Jews, are no longer a relevant factor in the lives of most Israelis.
Let me add quickly that Stuart Schoffman is no Diaspora basher. Far from it. He is an American writer and intellectual who lived in California, and made aliyah a dozen or so years ago. He has many friends in the U.S. and visits them on his frequent trips here. And also, I would contend from casual conversations with him, he has a deep and abiding affection for this country and for the Jews who reside here.
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