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MAGGIE MCCOOL WOODSTOWN HIGH, TRENTO, NJ
WON'T KILL TO LEARN
Trenton, NJ. Maggie McCool, 16 year old student at Woodstown High, who seadfastly refused to dissect worms, frogs or a fetal pig in her biology class,won her legal battle last July 25, 1989 against Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional Board of Education when school officials agreed to honour her religious beliefs and recalculate her failing grades. McCool had charged that the Board violated her freedom of religion by giving her failing grades for refusing to participate in dissection experiments in her 10th grade biology class.
McCool has been a vegetarian for 11 years and likens her belifs to those of the doctrines of Jain Religion which emphasizes asceticism and reverence for all living beings. Her convictions keep her from wearing leather or wool or drinking milk. She also shuns make up, which is often tested on animals.
McCool's household has been vegetarian since she was a small child and although the rest of the family does not adhere to as strict a system of beliefs, her father, Joseph McCool, said he and the other family members believe in the doctrine of nonviolence - "Ahimsa".
JAIN COMMUNITY OF BUFFALO, NY CELEBRATES
SEVENTH INTER FAITH PRAYER SERVICE
Buffalo, NY. Jain Religion, being one of the most ancient world religions, joined to celebrate Inter Faith prayer services on Tuesday, November 21,1989 at 805 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14 209. Dr Dhiraj Shah, chairman Jain Community of Buffalo, was on hand to represent Jain Religion at this service.
The Inter Faith is where the seven world religions come together at one place, at one time to give thanks to God through prayers, scriptural readings and music. Dr Shah at the gathering read passages from Dravya Samgraha of Saint Nemichandra Siddhantideva of 11th century and also spoke briefly on the doctrines of Jain Religion.
LORD PARSHVANATH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED AT ST.LOUIS, MO
St. Louis, Mo. Jain Center of greater St. Louis, Missouri organised the birthday celebrations of Lord Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankara, who lived and preached the doctrines of Jain Religion in India, 250 years before Lord Mahavira.
The celebrations were held on December 10,1989. The program began with Nammokkar Mantra and devotional songs in praise of the Lord and His attributes. Special poojas were conducted to coincide with the celebrations.
CHICAGO JAIN SOCIETY ELECTS NEW OFFICERS 1989 -1991
Chicago, IL.At the Bi-ennual General Body Meeting of Jain Society of Chicago held on 12 November 1989, the following officers were elected for 1989-1991: Bhupen Shah - President, Uttam Jain - Vice President, Prabodh Vaidya - Secretary, Kishor Shah - Treasurer, Dipak Kapadia - Jt Treasurer, Manu Doshi - Youth & Education, Urmila Talsania - Public Relations, Kirti Shah and Pravin Katwala - Members.
The New Executive took offices on January 1, 1990.
JAIN NUNS MADHU SMITA AND JAY SMITA
GIVE DISCOURSE AND BHAVANA AT WASHINGTON DC & CHICAGO IL
The two Jain nuns, Madhu Smita and Jay Smita from Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, India were invited by Jain Society of Washington DC to deliver discourse and sing Jina stavans from November 28 thru December 3, 1989 at the Jain Chaityalay 1021 Briggs Chaney Road, Silverspring, MD.
Chicago Jain Society, Illinois organised discourse-bhavana program of the nuns from
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