Jain Center of America NY 2005 06 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center of America NY
Publisher: USA Jain Center America NY

Page 9

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*MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT*
Sahdharmik Brother and Sisters
Jai Jinendra,
Welcome to our Pratishtha Mahotsav. Jain Center of America is proud to have a new Shikharbandhi Daherasar with Pran Pratishthist Moorties for both Digambars and the Swetambar sect, for the first time outside of India. For the last nearly twenty-five years, we have a fully functioning temple with Pooja, Aarti, and Mangal Divo daily.
Jain Center of America New York is the pioneer of Jainism in North America. We are the largest community of rapidly increasing society of Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacy owners, Entrepreneurs, Professionals, Businessmen, and highly educated, hard working upper middle class members. From a 2,000 sq. ft., we now have a well-equipped 16,000 sq. ft. facility with heated floors, elevator, and air conditioning. We respect all diversities and have also provided a Sthanak, Shrimad Hall, Ashtapad, and Dadawadi temple, all under one banner of "Jain Center of America-New York." We have an assembly room for our seniors, as well as a computer cum Art Gallery for our youngsters. Very soon, our GyanMandir-Pathshala Library will be busy with our adults and youngsters learning about Jainism.
With the blessings of Lord Mahavirswami, both the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees with many dedicated members of JCA, were able to fulfill our dream of a beautiful Daherasar in the middle of this bustling and hustling metropolis New York City-the Gateway to the Americas. Make a visit to Jain Center a habit for the whole family and you will see tremendous progress even in your children, as they learn the values you admire the most. To retain our identity in the midst of this melting pot of cultures, we must all do our share to make our understanding deeper and impart the teachings to our children. The Temple allows you an easy pathway. Five different philosophies within Jainism as presented in our temple are like five fingers in a hand, together they form a fist, a symbol of power.
A non-flowing mass of water becomes stagnated and starts stinking, a society is not different. In our lifetime, we accepted electricity, the light bulb, air travel, telephones, and computers. We have settled nearly 10,000 miles away in a foreign land, set in its own ways. The rigidity of thoughts will widen our generation gap, and our dream of leaving a legacy of Jainism will just remain a dream. Society has to adopt the changing times. Leave you minor differences and consider yourself as His (Lord Mahavir's) children. In spite of diversity, we all are one.
I am honored and humbled by your confidence in me to be your president for last four years. Indeed, I am fortunate to have this opportunity to serve you during this momentous occasion of Pratishtha. I am also blessed to have a team of hardworking, eager Executive Committee members, along with the Board of Trustees to help me. On behalf of myself, my family, and the Executive Committee, “MICHCHHAMI DUKKADAM."
Hemant Shah
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