The founding of the State of Israel was, for Jews who witnessed it (even from afar), the most momentous event in their lifetimes. Not only did it restore the Jewish homeland, it created a new image of the Jew — who had been maligned and reviled across the globe and over centuries. We here, in the United States, joined in joy with the new Israelis, and did all we could to help. Some went there and fought in the War of Independence. Some smuggled arms to the fighters. Others collected pennies and dollars in "blue boxes" and bought Israel bonds. Some used any political clout available. Everybody prayed.

It is with mixed emotions that we announce that the staff of The Jewish Standard has, collectively, won the New Jersey Lottery, making instant millionaires of those who have toiled faithfully to bring you all the Jewish news we think you should read.

The money will enable us to relocate our office, moving to a site more fitting for our mission. After a long discussion, it has been decided that Tahiti best meets our needs. First, there are no Jews there, so we’re not likely to be interrupted by letters (responding to letters responding to letters), e-mails (accusing us of being right-wing, left-wing, and lords of the ring), or phone calls inviting us to cover the opening of a hair-piece store for men because "Jewish men get bald, too."

In keeping with Monty Python’s anthem "Always look on the bright side of life," we bring you eight "candles" to brighten the often-dark side of the news.

• Whatever the ultimate impact of this week’s Annapolis conference, the presence of such unlikely participants as Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon was astonishing and heartening (go to jta.org for a full list of attendees and see our cover story, as well as the editorial below);

A full-page photo-essay in Sunday’s New York Times Week in Review sent mixed messages. The story, by Steven Erlanger, begins with this indisputable truth: "It’s a miserable time to be a Gazan." The headline — "Under Siege, Life in Gaza Just Shrinks" — implies that Gazans’ misery is Israel’s doing.

"Hopes were high in 2005," Erlanger notes, "when Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops and 9,000 Jewish settlers, and the international community lined up to help the Palestinians make Gaza a model for their potential state."