Outside Israel, more Jews live in America than anywhere else. New York is where the influential Jewish community works to promote its interests. 'I know Secretary Clinton well, and Vice-President Biden', says Head of the Presidents of American Jewish Organisations. 'Even the President will take my call, as long as I don't call collect', he laughs. When Israel launched its recent attacks on Gaza, the response from the Jewish community was instantaneous. 'We went in, we saw success', says rabbi and TV presenter Shmuel Butman. 'Soldiers say they saw divine intervention, miracles'. But the community's reaction was not unified. 'Israel's response was too large, too focused on the military', says member of Rabbis for Human Rights Ellen Lipman. 'The idea that there is a unified Jewish lobby is a myth', says Jewish Affairs expert J J Goldman, 'and the community is rife with tensions.' However, Rabbi Lipman remains optimistic. 'Jews are a vocal people...We have been known for a long time as people of the Book and now continue to be people of words. And I think there is something healthy about debate'.