Issue 23

Welcome to the 23rd edition of Perspectives for the High Holy Days, a season of reflection and renewal. Our theme this time is kavana: intention, direction and purpose—a word that doesn’t just ask what we do, but how and why. Through these pages, we explore what it means to live and lead with clarity, conviction and a deep grounding in timeless values, acting with conscience and navigating complexity with integrity. Following a thought-provoking exploration of Core Values by our CEO, Rabbi Naftali Schiff, this edition brings together interviews from boardrooms to battlefields: harnessing cutting-edge AI to benefit society and fusing ancient wisdom with clinical psychology to transform culture within the British military and police. You’ll read a powerful conversation with Rabbi Doron Perez, who reflects on faith, pain and purpose—not only as a community leader but as the father of Capt. Daniel Perez hy"d, one of the 50 hostages still held by Hamas, either struggling to survive or cruelly denied the dignity of burial. Since our last issue, Israel has prevailed through a twelve-day war with Iran while holding seven other fronts. In response, we include a historical reflection on the Jews of Iran—past, present and uncertain future—prompted by this summer’s events. Meanwhile, the world continues to assail us with renewed ferocity, dressing ancient blood libels in modern language. In such times, remembering who we are is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Our High Holy Days section offers a fresh and accessible deep dive into the very crux of our new year’s prayers, and introduces simple, actionable “micro-resolutions” that make meaningful change feel both approachable and sustainable. French-Israeli chef Jonas Bismuth shares dazzling recipes rooted in tradition, at once playful, comforting and refined. Sasha Silber