Int Jain Sangh NJ 2003 04 Mahavir Jayanti

Author(s): Int Jain Sangh NJ
Publisher: USA International Jain Sangh IJS

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
International Jain Sangh has instituted an Annual Award of Excellence since the year 2001. It honors an exceptionally worthy person, who has visibly and verifiably demonstrated a great service to further the teachings of Lord Mahavir including peace, nonviolence, Jain education, and compassion either by practice or by influencing public policies, media coverage or through interfaith programs.
The Award of Excellence for the year 2003 to Mr. Arvind Vora recognizes his leadership for promoting the teachings of Jainism mainstream, particularly peace and nonviolence, through interfaith programs. He is the Chairman of the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum, a composition of twelve faiths started in 1994 to affirm publicly that religious pluralism is a reality and is to be valued. It works together toward building a society that recognizes the value of every person by promoting peace and justice for all. The most challenging task for Arvind is to keep 12 faiths together and keep discussing the issues on the table. According to an article in Newsday, one of the top 10 largest metropolitan newspapers in USA, Arvind's philosophy is to be careful to observe two fundamental principles: Ahimsa and Aparigraha. First is not to be hurtful to others; and the second is not to buy or keep things that you don't need. According to Arvind, the message to respect everyone's religion has never changed, but Sept. 11 has propelled it, to get it out faster and to a wider audience.
Arvind Vora is an engineer by profession, and lives on Long Island, NY with his wife Ila, daughter Anjali and son Aditya. He is founder of Jain Society of Long Island, a founder and former president of India Association of Long Island, and a founder of Shanti Fund. He has held offices in several organizations including Jain Center of America-NY, Federation of JAINA, Anuvibha, and Federation of India Association-NY; and has also been active in political, business and social arenas. He led a multi-faith delegation of 15 people to the Whitehouse in 1993 for the bill signing ceremony of the 'Freedom of Religions Restoration Act' by President Clinton.
International Jain Sangh is proud to honor Mr. Arvind Vora with its prestigious Award of Excellence. The past recipients are Mr. Bawa Jain and Dr. Dhiraj H. Shah.