Heroes in Business - Dr Liew for U.S. Senate, Congressman Mark Siljander, Rabbi Dr Cohen, and Dr. Kedar

Episode Date: August 1, 2022

Dr. Liew for U.S. Senate interviews Congressman Mark Siljander, Rabbi Dr. Cohen ,and Dr. Kedar in this episode of Today America and the World.

Okay. Yeah. Hi. Thank you for having me, Sarah. It's a pleasure to be here. My name is Rabbi Yaakov David Cohen. I work as a head of a delegation in the United Nations promoting universal peace. Now, we say universal peace, it's like the Congressman said and the doctor, Mordechai Gadar, said, it's a great, it's a very powerful, everyone wants peace. The question is, how do we achieve peace in reality? Now, when we introduce God Almighty, whether you're Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, we introduce a new dimension into the picture, we achieve peace. There's a famous story of a young child trying, of Washington in the United Nations, trying to put together a map of the world, and they couldn't do it.

Finally, a little child comes, and comes in two seconds he puts together a map of the world he says how'd you do it he says very simple he puts it two eyes the nose the mouth on the flip side of a map of the world was a picture of a person so we have to get ourselves in place meaning whether you're chinese whether you're korean whether you're where whichever ethnicity whichever country you come from, whichever religion, whichever faith, whichever background, regardless, God didn't leave us to stumble in the dark. The way he achieved us, the way we achieved peace is by following the laws of Noah. Noah, we all know the story what happened with Noah. Before the flood, the people didn't listen and didn't invite God into the picture.

And because they thought that they ruled the world and God showed them. But now we're living, he gave us seven principles called the seven universal laws of Noah, which I'll briefly just say what they are, to believe in God, not to curse God, not to kill, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to be cruel to animals, and to establish courts of justice. These are basic principles, fundamental for our coexistence, regardless of whether you're a believer or not, or which religion you belong to. So really, we have to introduce this, you know, to whether Congress and Mark were saying, introduce this into the house of, into our schools. So we can't have enough policemen. You could, you know, today,

we could have all the police, all the technology, but if we don't introduce self-control, which is introducing Hashem God into the police, all the technology. But if we don't introduce self-control, which is introducing Hashem, God, into the picture, we're doomed. We're doomed. And the Muslims also. You know, the world needs to recognize there's a fundamental belief that God created the world

and loves every person and respects it and he sends everyone a mission in the world. How do I achieve this? It's interesting that the Western powers have sort of thrown the baby out with the bathwater, meaning

they've thrown religion and God out of our courtrooms, out of our schools, etc., etc., out of the media, out of the films, and so on. The countries which believe in God, the Muslims, as well as South Americans and Asians, Asia is a different issue because of communism. But essentially, the Asians also have a strong connection to a higher authority. So the idea is to unite everyone through

the universal values, the universal laws of Noah, Noah's code. And this will bring about peace. And this is really what the United Nations is there for, to unite people, to have Russia and Ukraine sit down at a table and address Russia's concern

and address Ukraine's concern instead of going to the battlefield. So really it's about a place where people and countries and leaders could meet and should meet and both the political leaders should, as Antonio Gerardis, the current Secretary General stated, it's not a political issue that's going to be resolved by politicians.

World peace needs, you need to have the dimension of God, of religious leaders around the table. That's the only way, because it's not a political problem. It comes from, like Dr. Mark, I mean, not Dr. Mark,

Professor Mordechai was saying, different fractions of different religions can't respect and understand the other religion. So it's about getting all Muslim leaders, whether they're Shiite or Sunni, it doesn't matter, all Christian groups, all Buddhist people, everyone around the table and saying, what can we agree on? What is the bridge?

What is the bridge that you and I, we don't agree on a lot of things, but what can we agree on what is the bridge what is the bridge that you and i we don't agree on on on a lot of things but what can we agree on and that's what the universal no hide code noah's code is a bridge it's a bridge between people a bridge between nations a bridge between man and god and god and man and environment it covers the basic principles to worry about global climate change whether it's it addresses everything

from human rights, women's rights to even to animal rights thou shalt not be cruel to animal is in there. So it addresses all aspects of the human existence.

And once we look at this and we bring everyone around the table and say, hey, could you agree? Could we all sign off on this? Then we'll have peace. So I hope and pray that we all, that everyone sits around that table and all find the Noah's Code as a bridge to unite all people.

Because truly, we're all living in a global village. And everyone has to sit down and take a step back and sit down and say, listen, I think everyone, every religion, every priest, and even atheists, they may not believe in God. They may say they don't believe in God, but they still can agree to all these principles. So it's about finding that bridge, uniting everyone,

and then we'll have not only a truly united nation, we'll have a united world, regardless of whichever nation, nationality, creed, religion, ethnicity, male, female, et cetera, et cetera. People who belong to it will truly have united, and then we'll have peace and harmony. This is a way to bring in the redemption. Redemption means that the world will stop fighting.

Evil will be eradicated. And there will be peace and harmony. There's enough bread to feed everyone. There's enough food. There's enough resources today with technology, et cetera, to feed everyone, to everyone to live happily and in harmony. We just have to be willing to sit down and focus on that. And please, God, let us hope we see that

and we see the ultimate redemption, Mashiach, now, and we see where the whole world comes together as one, united as one for this great, beautiful world which God created. And thank you very much for having me. The Talmud class in UN, right? So how we can learn more. Right. The fact that we become a child of Noah, before there was any religion, quote-unquote Jewish, Christianity, Islam. They was only children of Noah. So we all go back to that step.

So if we all just take a step back and it doesn't matter what kind of hat you wear, you wear a yarmulke, you wear this hat, you wear Republican, Democrats, it doesn't matter. It's all human. I have a class every Tuesday in the United Nations headquarters. Now it's on Zoom. You're welcome to join.

If someone wants to send me an email, rabbicohen at nohi.org, I'll be glad to invite them and send an invitation. The bottom line is Judaism, before Jews were Jews, we were children of Noah. And then we became Jewish at Mount Sinai, which now we're coming up to the holiday of Shavuot,

the receiving or the giving of the Torah. So it's a universal message that precedes all religion, all people. The three survivors with Noah had three sons.

And we all come from a great-grand, great-granddaddy with Noah. I have another question. So if someone invite you, your class, what we can learn exactly how class go on, you know, just tell us a little bit briefly you know we learned okay basically every week we have a torah class it was originally in the un itself for the staff and delegates but you know since covet we've opened it up to uh

on zoom and basically we discussed the parsha which is the weekly portion of the Torah. The Torah is divided up into weeks. And we also discuss current holidays. For instance, Shavuos, which is the receiving of the Torah. And then we discuss Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, the Jewish New Year, Passover, all different holidays and different topics and we also talk about how we could how the physical we're physical

how we could the finite we're physical and finite how the physical and finite could become could become spiritual and infinite

and the way we do that is by connecting to almighty God which is the ultimate of infinity and is beyond any definition we discuss that and we also discuss

just general ethics and so on and also how do we cure the world I have another question and so on. And also, how do we cure the world? I have another question. So, I am in California. So, can you...

California has a lot of Jewish community as your leader. So, as I know, every Jewish read Torah. So, what is your... We have Hukma, right? Hukma means wisdom. Yeah, I'm learning

Hebrew and Hella. So what wisdom you can give to as you are Torah professor to the California has a lot of problem, homeless, climate inflation. What you gonna answer for that? Listen, number one

I'm not going to go into all the different issues because each issue has to be dealt with individually whether it's environmental whether it's political whatever in California itself but I think the basic

fundamental is getting back to the basics. This country, United States of America, and for that matter, Hollywood, was founded on the principle of believing in the one God. Believing in God. in the one God, believing in God, and moral and the sanctity of the family, Father knows best.

You know, all these TV shows, and all this, I think California in particularly has to go back to its basics. You know, that God, and it applies to everywhere. There are challenges in Iran, there are challenges in California, there are challenges it applies to everywhere there are challenges in Iran there are challenges in California

there are challenges in New York there are challenges everywhere and each one has a unique challenge with their own special address special delivery from you know God challenges us Californians should adopt this because it's something which would

bring about peace, strife between the Republicans and the Democrats, between all the different issues, between environmentalists and not, it will create a sense of unity, something, a bridge. A bridge is where you're able to go to the other person's house and he comes to your house. I have another question. You are from Israel, right?

You are in Israel right now. I'm not from Israel. I'm a third-generation New Yorker. Oh, you are in New York. My grandfather was born in New York in the turn of the century. So I'm a third-generation. My father was born in New York. He just passed away, but he worked for the united states army in the navy yard and then the

u.s first the navy then the army and i did have an uncle uncle ben who lived in la so i remember he went from from brooklyn to la but there's a lot of jewish people in la i think the the jewish people you have to look at the ones that have the yarmulkes. Because they have something to say. They have the Torah. When you have the Torah, you have what to say. If you don't have the Torah, you're just talking. So you have to look at the rabbis with the

yarmulkes. With the little yarmulkes. And they'll explain to you. I think the yarmulkes mean the religious Jews. The religious Jews. The Jews that study Torah and live by the Torah. That's what I mean. They have the answer.

And there's a lot of Chabad houses, a lot of different organizations out there that have what to say. You have to approach the rabbis and they have to, you know, even the Iranian Jews. The Iranian Jews could solve what's going on in Iran because they

understand the mentality. So it's about looking into Torah because Torah is the blueprint. It has all the answers. It doesn't matter whether you're in Iran, Israel, or Afghanistan, Pakistan, wherever you are, the Torah has the answers.

It's universal. And it supersedes any... I have the... Because you have time limited, so I have one other question for you. Your contribution in UN, it's not easy, you know, you build a relationship. So how you had, you know, the motivation, momentum to involving UN and, you know, teaching those Torah, you know, many people had a passion for that. Well, UN is, like I say, it's a platform like TV, film, radio, print, whatever media. It's a platform.

You could use it for good. You could use it for, God forbid, the other way. The idea is to utilize TV, film, any platform, the UN, to promote goodness and kindness. That's what it is, plain and simple. It's about utilizing the tools that you have for for something the choice is ours meaning free choice is up to the individual we have the choice to either print something good or print something negative we have the the the choice to to make a movie of harmony and peace or make a movie of death and destruction we have that choice the film doesn't

tell you what to do it's up it's the the person behind the director whoever you want to call him whoever is involved the executive director or whoever they decide so it's up to us to utilize that means to promote goodness and kindness. And it's a win-win. Everyone wins. You'll make money also, don't worry. Because God, Hashem doesn't leave you. If you go in Hashem's ways, He'll provide you with everything you need. Yeah, great.

One more thing. So this is my last question. Great. One more thing. This is my last question. So what is your goal or achievement? You're teaching the Torah at the UN. What is your goal? I know several goals you have. What is your priority goal you want to achieve?

My goal is to bring peace and unity to all people. And to teach them Torah. And because the Torah will bring peace, it was given for the sake of peace. It has guidelines. Yes, you can't kill. Yes, you're not allowed to murder. You're not allowed to steal.

But this is all for the benefit of you and everyone else. So I'm trying to bring universal peace and ultimately to have redemption. And this is again if someone has a question they can go contact me through my website www.nohai.org we're not trying to control the world we're trying merely to bring

light, something which has withstood communism, nazism you name it all from generations the Torah has withstood every test every challenge Nazism, you know, you name it, all from generations, the Torah has withstood every test, every challenge. People will stand this test of liberalism or Americanism,

whatever you want to define it, or other challenges or jihadism, whichever way we are, there's different challenges. It will withstand and it's strong enough to withstand and to provide a clear, decisive direction of how to live and provide peace. Ultimately, it's about peace, love and peace. That's what it's about. So how long, how many hours those lectures? Like one hour or what?

We have a weekly class that's about an hour or two, but then we have other events throughout the week and throughout the year and have a weekly TV show as well on every Thursday night here in New York. And you can Google my name on and it's all archived on YouTube. Thank you for your achievement for the community, especially you are the messenger from God, which is you, God chooses you to teach Torah,

like Christian, we call Bible. This is blessing to your life. You bring all the God's blessing to the other people. God bless you. Thank you. Thank you. And God bless you. Thank you. Thank you. And God bless you.

Thank you, Mark. And thank you, everyone. Thank you so much for joining today. Shalom, shalom. Shalom, shalom. Shalom, shalom, everyone. Pastor, today here, you know, former Congressman Mark, you know, joined our show.

So please, you know, Congressman Mark, as your political leaders, now today's political leaders show civil disagreement, like Republican and Democratic. They are disagreementers, even, you know, people. So how, as you had experience, you know, more than a decade as Congress, so today's, you know, you see today's politics, what is your solution here? Well, thank you for asking you see today's politics, what is your solution? Well, thank you for asking and being concerned about how do we bring people who think very differently together.

And this is the challenge of our time. It's not just religious or political. We have tribal arguments. Everyone seems to be, especially with COVID, causing so much anxiety that people are nervous and overall angry. Just think of the homicides, historic high. Suicide, historic high. Opioid and fentanyl overdoses, historic high. Road rage everywhere, historic high. I mean, everywhere one looks, we are, America, notwithstanding the rest of the world, is in trouble. So how do we get out? And in one minute, the answer is in a story. I walked up to a friend of mine in the Congress, and he is very, very pro-life. I'm not pushing an issue. I'm just saying he was a leader of the pro-life movement

in the House of Representatives. And I said, how's it going? He said, you know, Mark, it hasn't changed in 10 years. We're still the same where we are now as we were 10 years ago. I said, all right. Well, Einstein argued that if you repeat the same effort and think you'll get a different outcome each time that you're insane. I said, have you changed your strategy? He said, well, no. I said, you need to change the strategy. He said, what would you recommend as a new strategy? And here it is. I said, well, here's what I'd like you to consider doing. Find a woman who's the most pro-choice in the House of Representatives and go sit with her. And he interrupts me. He says, Mark, I met with Nancy Pelosi. I said, oh,

how did it go? It was a disaster. What did you do? This congressman said he went on his knees and begged her to be pro-life. I said, well, brother, this isn't what I'm talking about. You didn't let me finish. The idea is to pick someone that's opposite of you on the issue that is closest to your heart and go and befriend them. Have a cup of tea and coffee with them. Take them out to lunch and don't talk about the obvious issue. You know, in English, we say there's an elephant in the room, which means there's an obvious issue that everyone knows about. And if you bring it up, it's no surprise. So why would this pro-life

leader go to Nancy Pelosi? And of course, she's waiting for him to talk about the elephant in the room, which in this case was the abortion issue. I said, don't talk about it don't bring it up just ask her about her life her family break bread together just get to know each other and don't let god we start talking first you know not thinking enemies so we have sometimes people you know why this this even their disagreement but they don't know they don't hear other but they don't know, they don't hear other party. They don't even know the reason of why they disagreement because they are Republican. Everything is a disagreement, pro-life and pro-choice. You know, gun control, even second amendment, you know.

Yes, gun control for the Democratic, you know, no gun control for the Republican. Second amendment also, you know, the Republican, we are a second amendment, yes, but the Democratic, no. So even, you know, the things is really there, as you said, we have to listen closer and then have the negotiation power. Then we can solve this agreement over what you say. So I truly understand.

I was watching yesterday your video. Already you talk about that, you know, about Jesus Christ. Even people have a Muslim. You go there, talk to the Muslim, you know, listen to them, and then you transform their life as a Christian. But most people, they say, I don't care about Muslim. Oh, no, no. And but you talked yesterday video, one of that, you know, you talked to, we need to go there and listen there. And so I think, you know, we as politics, we should listen to other parties, why they disagree. And then we have to really power of persuasion and then knowledge and experience, you know,

employable policy we have to ready for together. So, you know, the things in the policy makers, there is a three parts. One is a government, another one civil society, another market. So in Congress,

you have experience, you know, so many, you know, policies maybe disappear because not impliable, you employable in the market. So I have another question. Maybe this is the last question.

In California now is so serious, climate, inflation, homelessness, businesses, COVID turned out. I know you are the work in UN, as well as you are the ambassador in UN. So how inside of UN, you know, maybe helping Africa or any other country or even America, how the UN solved this problem for today's issues, like COVID, all the hunger all over the place, you know. I know UN always helping outside. I want to know the UN doing inside or outside. I know you do a lot of things tonight now as a UN ambassador.

I want to hear. And then, as well, how we can help you, how we can help you to, you know, more like your goal, like your mission to achieve. Well, I have to, I have a call that's already started, but you would be the great, if you were elected to the U.S. Senate, and you, as a unique immigrant to America, a woman, a Korean, who has a passion for God, your country, heart and mind of how can we find common ground on issues rather than manipulate, try to embarrass, and try to defeat others. If one person came with a different mentality and a heart to help and serve, I think you would be blessed. I believe that the spirit would open doors for you that no other person would have in the U.S. Senate or the House. And this is why you are a unique person with unique calling. And I pray that you're extremely successful, because if you bring the spirit to the U.S. Senate, it could cause major positive

change. You did already. I know you already, exactly what you say, you already accomplished. You are one of our moda. You are watching us on YouTube. So I'll continue watching your YouTube and all audience, you know, if you want to know more about

Congressman Mark, what you do today, or, you know, what his mission, please visit his website or his YouTube channel. There's lots of information. So any of your closing statement, thank you so much. Your advice is number one.

That is, you know, because of you, you can say that. I didn't hear those kind of advice anywhere because you are the spiritual person. You work for Jesus, you know. That's why I'm a pastor. You work for Jesus. That's why you have those powerful messages you give to me. Thank you so much. So last closing, just for California residents, as you are Congress, for my congressmen, as UN Assembly, just last, you know, comment for the California voter. Maybe you can recommend our campaign or do you recommend me to give advice? So can you give some advice for California voter?

Yeah. Yes, I think the California voters should look for something new, someone new with different paradigm, different way of thinking. And that's you, that's Sarah. You have a different way of thinking. And that's you. That's Sarah. You have a different way of thinking. The same old way of thinking have caused the stalemate in Washington. So we need people like just, as I say, just one person like you, just one who truly look for

common ground and not only look for divisive manipulation and trying to defeat the other. So thank you for having me on your show. My call is in process and their anger is deep. So thank you for your great wisdom through your life. Thank you. I want to contact you. Keep on.