Jain Digest 1994 03 Vol 10 No 01

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 5

INTERNSHIP
THE HEADQUARTERS NEWS
Roshan Jain
Mala Shah
JAINS PARTICIPATE AT WHITE HOUSE SIGNING CEREMONY Sixteen Indian Americans were among the 50 representatives of different faiths present when President Bill Clinton signed the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993" at the Rose Garden in the White House on November 16, 1993.
The bill which overturns a 1990 Supreme Court ruling, has been the top legislative priority of a broad coalition of religious groups spanning the theological and political spectrum.
"What this law basically says is that the government should be held to a very high level of proof before it interferes with someone's free exercise of religion," Clinton said.
According to the leader of the broad coalition that fought for the legislation, the Act marks the end of "a steady drumbeat of bad decisions for religion" in the nation's courts. "All told, more than 60 cases have been decided against religious claimants" since a 1990 Supreme Court ruling made it easier for federal and local governments to pass laws that infringe on religion.
The 16 Indian-Americans who were present represented Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Muslim and Christian faiths. The group was coordinated by Mr. Arvind Vora of Long Island. Jains were represented by the following individuals as shown in the picture on the front cover page: Mr. Peter Bheddah of New York (at extreme left), Amrendra Muni of Siddhachalam (behind President Clinton), Mr. Harshad Lakhani of New York (2nd from right), Dr. Dhiraj Shah of Buffalo (4th from right) and Mr. Arvind Vora of Long Island (5th from right).
Sejal Shah
Neil Bhayani
Neera Jain
Dr. Arun Jain The National Internship Program at the JAINA Headquarters got off the ground on February 6, 1994. Seven students (five of them are pictured above) have been volunteering a total of three to six hours per month (1 or 2 three hour shifts) on Saturdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. They are responsible to man the office in their respective shifts and are entering and updating information essential for the efficient running of the national organization. Dr. Arun Jain is the Chairman of the program
A
The Eighth Biennial JAINA Convention will be
hosted by the Jain Sangh of New Jersey at Cherry Hill during the first week of July 1995.
See details in forthcoming issues.
March 1994 Jain Education International 2010_02
Signing Ceremony at Rose Garden, White House
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