Calling it the "winter of our hardship," President Barack Obama addressed the country's worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression during his first prime-time press conference. Amidst the darkness of the current situation, the president explained his proposals for change from the chandeliered bright golden lights of the East Room of the White House.

For Jews the world over, the two times when the president dealt with issues relating to Israel are of particular interest. He answered the first question in a way that may reassure Israel supporters and those who have had their doubts about the new president. He deftly deflected the second question from spotlighting the tiny democracy in the Middle East.

When asked about improving the relationship between Iran and the United States, Obama responded, "I said during the campaign that Iran is a country that has extraordinary people, extraordinary history and traditions, but that its actions over many years now have been unhelpful when it comes to promoting peace and prosperity both in the region and around the world; that their attacks or their financing of terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, the bellicose language that they've used towards Israel, their development of a nuclear weapon, or their pursuit of a nuclear weapon-that all those things create the possibility of destabilizing the region and are not only contrary to our interests, but I think are contrary to the interests of international peace."

The president added that "my expectation is in the coming months we will be looking for openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table, face to face, diplomatic overtures that will allow us to move our policy in a new direction."

But he cautioned that "There's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so it's not going to happen overnight. And it's important that even as we engage in this direct diplomacy, we are very clear about certain deep concerns that we have as a country-that Iran understands that we find the funding of terrorist organizations unacceptable; that we're clear about the fact that a nuclear Iran could set off a nuclear arms race in the region that would be profoundly destabilizing.

"I think that there's the possibility at least of a relationship of mutual respect and progress. And I think that if you look at how we've approached the Middle East, my designation of George Mitchell as a special envoy to help deal with the Arab-Israeli situation, some of the interviews that I've given, it indicates the degree to which we want to do things differently in the region. Now it's time for Iran to send some signals that it wants to act differently as well, and recognize that even as it has some rights as a member of the international community, with those rights come responsibilities."

When questioning about Pakistan giving safe haven to terrorists, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas seemed to try to provoke Obama about Israel by ending a question with "do you know of any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?"

But any hope on her part that Obama would bite the bait proved unsuccessful. The president skillfully maintained focus on eliminating terrorist enclaves in Pakistan and then wrapped up with, "With respect to nuclear weapons, you know, I don't want to speculate. What I know is this: that if we see a nuclear arms race in a region as volatile as the Middle East, everybody will be in danger. And one of my goals is to prevent nuclear proliferation generally. I think that it's important for the United States, in concert with Russia, to lead the way on this."

On Tuesday, the morning after the press conference, the president left the wintry skies of Washington and its icy political bickering over the stimulus bill and flew to sunny and bright Ft. Myers, Florida, where the economic situation of the people is anything but.

Despite the fact that Ft. Myers has the highest home foreclosure rate in the country, those gathered in the convention center for the town hall meeting, were rollicking, jubilantly expectant and so very honored that the president was coming to address their very real and painful woes. "After all, how often does a president come to little Ft. Myers?" said one participant. "It sure hasn't happened in the last eight years!"

The large and enthusiastic crowd clamored at the sight of Obama as if he were a rock star; their ebullient welcome was a sign of the hope they have that he will create positive change regarding the dire economic situation in which they find themselves.

Obama lovingly and sensitively spoke to the adoring gathering, expressing his concern for the "Folks in Ft. Myers and all across the country who have lost their livelihood and don't know what will take its place. Parents who've lost their health care and lie awake at night praying their kids don't get sick. Families who've lost the home that was the foundation of their American dream. Young people who put that college acceptance letter back in the envelope because they just can't afford it."

"I know people are struggling. But I also know that folks here are good workers and good neighbors who step up, who help each other out, who make sacrifices when times are tough. I know that all folks are asking for is a chance to work hard - and to have that work translate into a decent life for you and your family. You're doing your part down here - and it's time the government did its part too."

The president outlined his economic proposals, sharing the stage with Florida governor Republican Charlie Crist. Obama then invited the downtrodden yet resiliently upbeat throng to share their questions. Person after person got up and told their stories of lost jobs and shattered lives. At one point, a woman, weeping as she spoke, told Obama how happy she is for him that he was elected, that she prays for him and then told him of her heartbreaking circumstances in an emotional plea for help.

"I have an urgent need, unemployment and homelessness, a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in, the housing authority has a two year waiting list, and we need something more than the vehicle and the parks to go to. We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom. Please help."

She said she had been homeless since her son lost his job and, subsequently, their home. Although her son has been looking for work, she said so far, no luck.

And with that, Obama asked her name and then made his way to where Henrietta Hughes was standing; he took his hand in hers and then gave the tearful woman a hug and a kiss.

The crowd cheeringly responded, grateful and impressed to see his heartfelt caring. The president told Hughes, "We're going to do everything we can to help you, but there are a lot of people like you."

In the meantime, Hughes, a woman who is now being hailed as the "face of the economic crisis," and has become something of an instant media star, has been offered to share a home with a concerned fellow citizen of the area and many other offers of help are pouring in.

Obama assured the entire crowd that he understands what's at stake and he pledged to make good on his campaign promises.

"That is the true measure of this economic crisis. Those are the stories I heard every time I came here to Florida and that I have carried with me to the White House.

"I promised you back then that if elected president, I would do everything I could to help our communities recover. That's why I've come back today - to tell you I intend to keep that promise."