UN HQ NY, NY DEC 16, 2020

The Isaiah Wall in front of the United Nations Headquarters has become a meeting place this past month of Kislev, as a meeting point for groups who defend human rights around the world.   The prophesy of Isaiah draws independent groups clamoring for respect for human rights and religious freedoms in their countries, to this corner of New York, known for the day when nations will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hoods;  nations shall not lift up swords against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.   It is in this spirit that The Institute of Noahide Code, has gathered at Isaiahs’ Wall in front of the UN, to present the First Menorah of Peace Award.   This distinction was awarded to Mr. Jeffrey Davis, alongside his distinguished 94 year old Mother, who accompanied this group of members of the Institute, in the midst of New York’s first seasonal blizzard.   It is true that those who tearfully sow, will reap in glad song.   On the first night of Chanukah, members of the Institute of Noahide Code, directed by Rabbi Yakov Dovid Cohen, stood alongside members of Cuban groups who gathered on the 72nd Anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.   Chanukah, the festival of religious freedom, coincided with the secular commemoration of the universal code for human rights.   As a start, Rabbi Cohen delivered a speech to those present, advocating that universal rights are to include, the first declaration of rights, and duties, The Noahide Code.   Rabbi Cohen told those present that respect, the right to life and to freedom is due the world over, especially in Yemen, in Syria, among the million of Uyghurs held in China, to Cubans in their quest for freedom for the last 60 plus years, and now especially, in Europe, the challenge to religious freedom of the millennial tradition in Belgium, involving the practice of ritual slaughtering known as Schita.  Human rights and human freedom to practice a religion are enshrined in the Universal Noahide Code, which is fully covered by Torah.   It is the intent of Rabbi Yaakov D. Cohen as Director of The Institute of Noahide Code, to continue working in the sphere and realm of the United Nations, to promote freedom of religion the world over, and the duties and rights of nations, to its peoples, to respect their traditions whether as Uyghurs in China, or European Jews in their tradition of ritual slaughter for their food. 

Based on the teachings of the Rebbe of righteous memory ; adapted by Eli Touger

He saw him coming. Everyone else knelt to prostrate himself, but Mordechai sat upright. As Haman approached, his eyes met Mordechai’s. They didn’t see anger or rebellion, but rather the calm, resolute gaze of someone who knows what he stands for and chooses whom he stands with.

At that moment, Haman decided that he would try to rid the kingdom of Mordechai and his people.

A little lesson in history: Haman was the Persian viceroy, the most powerful man in the empire that ruled the world. Mordechai was the leader of the Jewish people; he “sat at the King’s gate,” serving as one of the royal counselors.

Haman had the king agree that all the people in the empire should worship him. Mordechai refused to comply.

Now why didn’t Mordechai bow down to Haman? Mordechai was a realistic person. He could have foreseen the consequences of his refusal. Why was he willing to risk everything – not only his own life and position, but that of the entire Jewish people?

So Haman was asking to be worshipped like a god. Big deal. Bow down to him and go further. Why waste more time about it? It definitely doesn’t make sense to give up one’s life – and risk those of one’s entire people – not to bow down.

But that’s the point. There are some things that are above making sense. There are immutable rules which G‑d wove into the very fabric of the universe. There is no way they can be broken. If a man tries, he will break himself against them.

Acknowledging G‑d and refusing to acknowledge any other power are the two most fundamental of these laws. Mordechai saw bowing down to Haman as a challenge to the fundamental core of his existence. Of course, he was not going to believe in Haman’s divinity. But no one was asking him a philosophical question. It was the deed that was most important.

Would he bow down to Haman and thus show his acceptance of the Persian empire as the most powerful force in his life? Or would he defy Haman’s decree and incur his wrath, but demonstrate his connection to G‑d?

For Mordechai, it wasn’t a question. Mordechai didn’t separate his faith from his live, or his principles from his day-to-day modus operandi. He lived what he believed in; he believed in what he lived. There was no dichotomy.

And this wasn’t true only of Mordechai. The entire Jewish people stood behind him. Even when Haman passed a decree calling for every Jew in the empire to be executed, they did not try to hide their Jewishness. On the contrary, they intensified their adherence to the Torah and its commandments.

Abstract idealism? An impractical approach?

Well, let’s see what happened. Haman was killed, Mordechai was given his position, and instead of the Jews being slain by their enemies, they annihilated all those who rose against them.

Not bad for idealism.

Because this was not just idealism, it was an awareness of the reality of our existence. It’s G‑d’s world. And when Mordechai and the Jewish people affirmed that, they were successful.

One further point: When Mordechai and the Jewish people affirmed of their Jewish identity and faith in G‑d, they did not retreat into isolationism. Mordechai became the viceroy; he – and his people – took a far wider role in Persian affairs than before. And while doing so, he proudly emphasized his Jewish identity; everyone referred to him as “Mordechai, the Jew.”

The two aren’t contradictory. Since one Judaism and one’s connection to G‑d are inherent facts of one’s existence, affirming them makes one more in sync with His order for the world, and more able to play a significant role within it.

Chanukah is an eight-day annual Jewish holiday. But it also lays claim as the start of western civilization. Not Jewish civilization, which was already old at the time of the first Chanukah in the second century before the common era, and not Hellenic (ancient Greek) civilization, which was also ancient. But the encounter of the West with Judaism, of reason with revelation, of Athens with Jerusalem: that began on Chanukah.

“Man,” said an ancient Greek philosopher, “is the measure of all things.” The Bible disagrees: “the fear of the Lord,” it says, “is the beginning of wisdom.” Who is right? A great debate about G‑d and man lies at the heart of the West. From Sinai to Babylon, from the lions to the Crusaders, from the Wars of Religion to the Age of Reason–and of Revolution, from Stalin to John Paul II, from eugenics to a belief that life is sacred, and from globalism to a respect for individual states – even Israel! — it remains the central question. Athens and Jerusalem still are what they always were, the struggling twins of the West.

Chanukah commemorates a miraculous victory in a war in 167 B.C.E. A Greco-Macedonian kingdom, centered in what is today Syria, had tried to outlaw the Jewish religion in its homeland in Judea and to replace it with Hellenic culture. Many Jews, in fact, supported that goal. But that is no surprise, because Hellenism had enormous appeal.

Hellenism seemed to have everything going for it. It was up-to-date, sophisticated, and intellectually satisfying. It offered wealth, health, art, and glamour. It represented the entrance ticket to an imperial civilization. Hellenism offered the opportunity to think big.

Judaism sat at the opposite end of the scale. It was old, small, and poor. It had no empire. It had nothing to offer except faith, trust, love, and strength. But those things, it turns out, are items that the human heart cannot do without.

So the miraculous happened. A small band, burning with faith, went on to defeat an empire.

There is, of course, a rational explanation; there always is. “The Syrian-Greek state had passed its prime.” “The Jews had short lines of communication.” “They mastered guerrilla tactics.” “The Greeks overplayed their hand.” “Judea wasn’t worth the bones of a Macedonian grenadier anyhow.” If rational explanations are enough for you, then take your pick.

But if you think that “the heart has its reasons that reason knows not of,” if you think that there is more to life than shifting particles, if you respect science without worshipping it – in short, if you doubt that man is G‑d, then wonder at the light of a miracle burning in the dark days of winter.

This week on 19 Kislev 5780 – 12 18 2019 guest speaker was Rabbi Dr Shimon D Cowen, son of a former Governor General of Australia, Sir Zelman Cowen OBM, has a dual background in secular and religious studies. He has a PhD in social philosophy and received Rabbinic Ordination.

Rabbi Goldstein address UN GA

6 28 2019. UN HQ today GA session on antisemitism with Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein together with HE Secretary General Mr. António Guterres opening with a powerful speech and Danny Danon of Israel .. with ambassadors from Hungary , EU and Ghana and others the list is too long ….fighting darkness with light , Hate with Love The Universal Noahide code for Universal peace for all nations.

High-Level Panel on The Role of Parliaments for Building Peaceful and Inclusive Societies and Combating Violent Extremism

UN Headquarters, New York, 21 July, 15.00 -18.00

LIST OF SPEAKERS

Co-organisers UNESCO, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN, Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics

With the Patronage of H.E. Prof. Frederico Mayor, President, Fundacion Cultura de Paz

Keynote Speakers: 

• Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
• Mr Jehangir Khan, USG and Chairman of the Counter-terrorism Implementation Task Force
• Mr Jehangir Khan, USG and Chairman of the Counter-terrorism Implementation Task Force
• H.E. Ambassador Kiarat Abdrakhmanov, Permanent Representative of Kazahstan to the UN
• Video Address, H.E. Frederico Mayor

Moderator: Gianni Picco, former USG
Panelists:
Panel 1 – The Call for National Legislation to Implement the Culture of Peace and Combat Violent Extremism

• MEP. Lara Comi, EU Parliament Representative (Italy)
• M.P. Saman Jafri, Member of Parliament of Pakistan
• The Honorable Diane Watson, U.S. Congress(rt) and former Ambassador
• M.P. Oezcan Mutlu, Representative from Bundestag, German
• M.P. Jalila Morsli, Member of Parliament of Morocco
• Video Address – Senator Pier Ferdinando Casini, Chairman, Italian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee

Panel 2- The Multi Track Partnership of Religious Leaders, Educators and the Media in Putting the Legislation into Action

• Dr. Lahoucide Khabid, President, Atlas Center for Diplomacy in Morocco
• Dr. Boris Pincus, President, Religions in Dialogue
• Imam Agha Jafri, Founder, American Muslim Congress
• Rabbi Yakov David Cohen, President UN NGO Institute of Noahide Code
• Dr. Wafik Moustafa, Chairman, Muslim Conservative Network UK
• Rev. Thomas Del Balle-Reyes, Catholic Holy Cross Church

Moderator: Mayor Martin Oliner
Affiliated Sponsors: 

• Alsadiqin
• American Muslim Congress
• American Association of Central Asian and Caucasian Countries Religions in Dialogue
• Australia Oriental Media Buddhist Charity Association
• The Institute of Noahide Code, UN NGO

22.07.2016 – ODG

Building peace starts on the parliamentarians’ benches as much as on the benches of schools

On 21 July, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, addressed a High-Level Panel on “The Role of Parliaments for Building Peaceful and Inclusive Societies and Combatting Violent Extremism”, organized by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, UNESCO, and the Interparliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics, at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Building peace and preventing violent extremism cannot be won with hard power only”, stated the Director-General. “We need soft power also, we need to win the battle of ideas, through education, through democratic debate, through a better understanding of each other’s cultures and religions” she continued. “Parliaments play a critical role to address the challenges of our times, when not everything can be solved at the level of Governments or United Nations Agencies alone,” said the Director-General in her opening speech highlighting that “parliamentarians have the unique power to bring solutions closer to the people, and make sure their needs and concerns are at the heart of our response.”

The event brought together parliamentarians and representatives of the diplomatic community, the United Nations system and civil society in an effort to establish a closer collaboration on the development of a culture of peace and preventing the unprecedented rise of violent extremism. It aimed at the adoption of legislation for mandatory education on culture of peace and measures to prevent terrorism and violent extremism. It also aimed at strengthening the multi-track diplomacy partnership, to engage governments, the UN system, religious, academic, and media leaders to fulfil their respective roles to implement such aligned legislation. The Director-General gave an overview of UNESCO’s action worldwide to prevent and counter violent extremism stating that “this starts on the benches of school, it must start with peace education, with textbooks and curricula that teach human rights, to prepare individuals to live as responsible citizens. Ms Emilia Gatto, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, stressed that “there are no easy answers… we need to tackle the root causes of violent extremism, including marginalization, inequalities, discrimination, human rights violations, and hate speech, using the full toolbox offered by Agenda 2030”. H.E. Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, urged that a long-term and comprehensive approach was needed to preventing and countering violent extremism, involving also regional and international cooperation, as a true requirement to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

In his intervention, Mr Jehangir Khan, Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, noted the key importance of dialogues with parliamentarians who represented the “citizens of the world”. He argued that violent extremism was one of the great challenges of the 21st century in particular in terms of preventing and saving the young generations from engaging in violent extremism. He also recalled the UN Secretary-General’s global plan of action, developed by the entire UN system.

Ms Hanifa Mezoui, Senior Advisor of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, commended UNESCO for having issued the Organization’s 2016 “Teacher’s Guide on the Prevention of Violent Extremism”. Ms Mezoui presented projects of the Alliance of Civilizations, aimed at strengthening religious cooperation and working through mediation as a form of preventive diplomacy.

The keynote session concluded with an address by Federico Mayor, President of the Foundation Culture de Paz, who recalled the important role of the UN High-Level Forum on a ‘culture of peace’, and urged parliamentarians to be at the forefront of the fight against extremist ideologies.

High-Level Panel on The Role of Parliaments for Building Peaceful and Inclusive Societies and Combating Violent Extremism

UN Headquarters, New York, 21 July, 15.00 -18.00

LIST OF SPEAKERS

Co-organisers UNESCO, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN, Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics

With the Patronage of H.E. Prof. Frederico Mayor, President, Fundacion Cultura de Paz

Keynote Speakers: 

• Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
• Mr Jehangir Khan, USG and Chairman of the Counter-terrorism Implementation Task Force
• Mr Jehangir Khan, USG and Chairman of the Counter-terrorism Implementation Task Force
• H.E. Ambassador Kiarat Abdrakhmanov, Permanent Representative of Kazahstan to the UN
• Video Address, H.E. Frederico Mayor

Moderator: Gianni Picco, former USG
Panelists:
Panel 1 – The Call for National Legislation to Implement the Culture of Peace and Combat Violent Extremism

• MEP. Lara Comi, EU Parliament Representative (Italy)
• M.P. Saman Jafri, Member of Parliament of Pakistan
• The Honorable Diane Watson, U.S. Congress(rt) and former Ambassador
• M.P. Oezcan Mutlu, Representative from Bundestag, German
• M.P. Jalila Morsli, Member of Parliament of Morocco
• Video Address – Senator Pier Ferdinando Casini, Chairman, Italian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee

Panel 2- The Multi Track Partnership of Religious Leaders, Educators and the Media in Putting the Legislation into Action

• Dr. Lahoucide Khabid, President, Atlas Center for Diplomacy in Morocco
• Dr. Boris Pincus, President, Religions in Dialogue
• Imam Agha Jafri, Founder, American Muslim Congress
• Rabbi Yakov David Cohen, President UN NGO Institute for Noahide Code
• Dr. Wafik Moustafa, Chairman, Muslim Conservative Network UK
• Rev. Thomas Del Balle-Reyes, Catholic Holy Cross Church
• Shoshana Nicole Bekerman, Director, Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics

Moderator: Mayor Martin Oliner
Affiliated Sponsors: 

• Alsadiqin
• American Muslim Congress
• American Association of Central Asian and Caucasian Countries Religions in Dialogue
• Australia Oriental Media Buddhist Charity Association
• The Institute for Noahide Code, UN NGO, Atlas Center for Diplomacy

22.07.2016 – ODG

Building peace starts on the parliamentarians’ benches as much as on the benches of schools

On 21 July, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, addressed a High-Level Panel on “The Role of Parliaments for Building Peaceful and Inclusive Societies and Combatting Violent Extremism”, organized by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, UNESCO, and the Interparliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics, at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Building peace and preventing violent extremism cannot be won with hard power only”, stated the Director-General. “We need soft power also, we need to win the battle of ideas, through education, through democratic debate, through a better understanding of each other’s cultures and religions” she continued. “Parliaments play a critical role to address the challenges of our times, when not everything can be solved at the level of Governments or United Nations Agencies alone,” said the Director-General in her opening speech highlighting that “parliamentarians have the unique power to bring solutions closer to the people, and make sure their needs and concerns are at the heart of our response.”

The event brought together parliamentarians and representatives of the diplomatic community, the United Nations system and civil society in an effort to establish a closer collaboration on the development of a culture of peace and preventing the unprecedented rise of violent extremism. It aimed at the adoption of legislation for mandatory education on culture of peace and measures to prevent terrorism and violent extremism. It also aimed at strengthening the multi-track diplomacy partnership, to engage governments, the UN system, religious, academic, and media leaders to fulfil their respective roles to implement such aligned legislation. The Director-General gave an overview of UNESCO’s action worldwide to prevent and counter violent extremism stating that “this starts on the benches of school, it must start with peace education, with textbooks and curricula that teach human rights, to prepare individuals to live as responsible citizens. Ms Emilia Gatto, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, stressed that “there are no easy answers… we need to tackle the root causes of violent extremism, including marginalization, inequalities, discrimination, human rights violations, and hate speech, using the full toolbox offered by Agenda 2030”. H.E. Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, urged that a long-term and comprehensive approach was needed to preventing and countering violent extremism, involving also regional and international cooperation, as a true requirement to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

In his intervention, Mr Jehangir Khan, Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, noted the key importance of dialogues with parliamentarians who represented the “citizens of the world”. He argued that violent extremism was one of the great challenges of the 21st century in particular in terms of preventing and saving the young generations from engaging in violent extremism. He also recalled the UN Secretary-General’s global plan of action, developed by the entire UN system.

Ms Hanifa Mezoui, Senior Advisor of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, commended UNESCO for having issued the Organization’s 2016 “Teacher’s Guide on the Prevention of Violent Extremism”. Ms Mezoui presented projects of the Alliance of Civilizations, aimed at strengthening religious cooperation and working through mediation as a form of preventive diplomacy.

The keynote session concluded with an address by Federico Mayor, President of the Foundation Culture de Paz, who recalled the important role of the UN High-Level Forum on a ‘culture of peace’, and urged parliamentarians to be at the forefront of the fight against extremist ideologies.

UN HQ Oct 8, 2018 reclaiming intellectual primacy & promoting PEACE in ECOSOC UN HQ by OIC, ARSH, HOLY SHRINE and Imam Agha Shaukat Jaffri and myself on Universal Noahide UN and Rav Moses Maimonides as a role model for a bridge between religious and academic … as he was Rabbi , Dr , philosophy and Peace maker

To say that our New York Drug-Free World (DFW) chapter has been busy is an understatement. When the US Department of Health and Human Services declares the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, there is no time to rest.

June 2018 is but one example of their tireless work. It all started with a Drug-Free Basketball Tournament at the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, co-hosted by Bobby “Zorro” Hunter, Chairman of the Retired Harlem Globetrotters.

Next came the 11th Annual Drug-Free Heroes Awards Gala, recognizing 15 awardees for their dedication to drug education. They included members of the New York Police Department, a New York state trooper, Miss New York and others. .. with Hugues SANON/ Ambassador for a Drug Free world and Human Rights advocate joined State …  

On its heels followed the 2nd Annual Truth About Drugs Concert in Brooklyn’s Canarsie Park, joined by the nonprofit My Time Inc., the Speak Life Tour, the local New York Police Department and various artists.

On that same day, held at the United Nations was the International High-Level Conference on Drug Education, Sports and Cultural Empowerment, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Senegal and the International Human Rights Commission. Also speaking was General Edwin Najera, Director of DFW Guatemala, officials from New York City and more.

When the US Department of Health and Human Services declares the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, there is no time to rest.

But in the city that never sleeps, they rolled right into a Drug-Free World float in the Puerto Rican Day Parade, joined by the Harlem Wizards and Miss Manhattan, Michelle Ley. The Wizards performed basketball acts with the crowd and 4,000 The Truth About Drugs booklets were distributed along the way.

Washington DC Nov 25 2018 With Ezra Friedlander on Capital Hill  to express my appreciation to the LA based co chairs Sol Goldner  and Gold medal  of Commission for their extraordinary leadership in ensuring the passage of the Gold Medal legislation, Egypt ambassador, Mr Joseph Stamm . Mr Stanley Treitel and Mr Shafik Gabr to name a few …