Updated

As Bernie Sanders headed toward victory in New Hampshire, pundits noted the barrier he was about to break.

With a win, Sanders would become the first Jewish candidate to win a major party presidential primary.

He did win the Feb. 9 primary, but the response from American Jews has been muted.

One reason: While the Vermont senator has come closer than any other Jew to being a major party presidential nominee, he has mostly avoided discussing his Judaism.

During more than three decades in public life, Sanders has developed few relationships with Jewish groups or leaders.

He has supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but has not made Israel in any way a priority.