But the most recent statistics available from the Federal Election Commission show a change, with Democrats -- the traditional recipients of most Jewish dollars -- now attracting some 54 percent of all direct contributions from pro-Israel political action committees.

As of Oct. 1, the PACs, some of which also consider domestic issues when distributing funds, had contributed $1.3 million directly to candidates of both parties.

The funds are finding their way into several tight races across the country, as well as a few secure contests that involve congressional leaders with records showing solid support for Israel.

Among leading recipients, the funds are more or less evenly distributed between Jewish and non-Jewish Congressmembers.

"Basically, you look for people who are on important committees with seniority who have been very consistently supportive" of the Jewish state, said Morris Amitay, founder and treasurer of Washington PAC, which had, as of Oct. 1, distributed about $120,000 to congressional candidates.

Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has been the top recipient of pro-Israel PAC funding in the House with about $25,000 in direct contributions. PAC officials cite his solid record on Israel and say they are backing him for obvious reasons.

Among House Democrats, Rep. Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista) has led the way with more than $15,000 in contributions. In that race, the distribution of anti-Semitic literature identifying Filner as an "Anti-Christ Jew for Congress" prompted a flood of Jewish contributions.

The PAC contributions represent only a small part of the Jewish community's political giving.

Millions more dollars flow from Jewish donors to candidates in the form of direct contributions from individuals; "bundled" individual contributions gathered by PACs and distributed to candidates in lump sums; and soft money -- unlimited contributions individuals make to political parties; the money is then unrestrictedly dispersed to various campaigns.

But only PAC funds can be reliably and immediately traced by the Federal Election Commission. Overall campaign contributions from the pro-Israel PACs have so far fallen short of the $2.3 million distributed prior to the 1994 election.

Most Jewish fund-raising traditionally revolves around "crisis situations," but an increasingly secure Israel has removed the "sense of urgency," said Chuck Brooks, executive director of National PAC.

Fund-raising by the 34 pro-Israel PACs has dropped steadily from $6.7 million in 1990 to $4 million in 1992 and $2.3 million in 1994.

PACs aside, political fund-raising among Jewish contributors in this election cycle has not shown significant signs of decline, according to Scott Gale, president of the Fundraising Management Group, a Democratic fund-raising consulting firm.

However, because there are no Senate races this year in New York or California, or races elsewhere that "capture the imagination" of the Jewish community, there is naturally "less Jewish money in politics," Gale said.

Despite a majority of Jewish funding aimed at Democrats, Republicans still receive donations from pro-Israel interest groups at record levels. Their 46 percent share of the pro-Israel PAC funding represents a sharp increase from previous elections when Republicans generally received about 30 percent of the pro-Israel PAC dollars.

NATPAC remains the only pro-Israel PAC favoring GOP incumbents, with nearly two-thirds of its $300,000 total in contributions going toward Republicans, according to FEC figures.

By contrast, the other 33 pro-Israel PACs have favored Democrats with about 60 percent of their contributions.

Although support for Israel transcends party lines, when it comes to abortion, the separation of church and state and preserving the social-benefits safety net -- issues that many pro-Israel PACs also weigh -- Democrats are generally considered more in step with the mainstream Jewish community.

This phenomenon upsets those on the other side.

"A lot of these PACs are placing their partisan biases ahead of what the real interests of Jewish community are," said Matt Brooks, executive director of the National Jewish Coalition, a Republican group.

A further look at the dispersal of direct contributions from pro-Israel PACs in the '96 campaign shows funds going to longtime friends of the Jewish community.

In addition to Gingrich, House Republicans receiving more than $10,000 include Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.), a strong supporter of Israel who chairs the House International Relations Committee, and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), whom Jewish donors have sought to reward for taking a vocal stand against Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas), Rep. Bill Paxon (R-N.Y.) and Rep. John Edward Porter (R-Ill.) have also received about $10,000 each.

Other incumbent Democrats with strong pro-Israel records receiving $10,000 or more from PACs include House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), Rep. Jane Harman (D-Los Angeles) and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).