“I think the author means political and cultural “strength and influence”
Politically? Our strength and influence didn’t get the US to bomb the tracks to Auschwitz concentration camp. So, there are a number of Jewish politicians? Big deal.
I think you may have it.
The author seems to be a big shot in the RCA, which organizationally has been taken over by libs. Perhaps Gordimer is simply bemoaning the inevitable decline of Jewish political liberalism.
As someone once asked, “If a Christian liberal marries a Jewish liberal, can it really be called an intermarriage?”