It's a new year. And a new BLOG begins. I am now a rabbi who has worked in my congregation since June 2007. And I've learned plenty in that time.

The catalyst for this post is the IDF's action against Hamas in Gaza, the predictable responses from both sides and the media, and my sense of weariness and hopelessness that Israel will ever truly fulfill the vision of its founding: to be the safest (or one of the safest) places in the world for Jews to live.

The invasion of Gaza was directed, primarily, at military/Hamas targets. There was and is "collateral" damage--that is, there is suffering inflicted on civilians. Israeli civilians have also suffered. Human beings are suffering. It is tragic that there is no sense of security in the region. The legacy of Hezbollah in 2006 still leaves a bitter taste in the public's mouth. This action in Gaza is designed, ostensibly, to stop rocket fire across the border into Israel. It is also for internal political consumption leading up to the choice of a new prime minister in February in Israel.

Yet Nahum Barnea, one of the preeminent columnists for Yediot Achranot in Israel says that it is unlikely that the stated goal will ever be fully reached. Hamas is not interested in peace with Israel; Hamas is not interested in even a workable cease-fire with Israel. And forgotten in all of this is that Israel withdrew from Gaza completely a few years ago. Occupation, at least in Gaza, was seen as untenable. At least this was the conclusion of Ariel Sharon whose legacy is not one of dovishness.

And now people around the world--pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian--are gearing up in all of the public squares, including online, to take sides.

As we enter 2009, my hope is that a way out of this morass will be found.