Jain Digest 1995 11

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

Page 30

COMMITTEE NEWS
Animal Compassion and Vegetarianism Chair - Narendra Sheth
The Committee consists of 15 members, a 5-person fundraising committee of Jain leaders and an advisory board of 9 outside experts, under the chairmanship of Narendra Sheth of San Diego, CA. The committee members are: Saurabh Dalal, Neela Gada, Sanjay Gala, Yashica Ghelani, Chandubhai Morbia, Jayshree Ranka, Samir Sanghani, Dimple Shah, Monal Shah, Monali Shah, Nikhil Shah, Surabhi Shah, Tej Sheth and Shaina Varia. The fund-raising committee members are: Ramesh Jain, Sulekh Jain, Girish Shah, Niranjan Shah and Anop Vora.
Museum and Art Gallery Kirit Gosalia - Chair
During the Pratishtha and JAINA Convention we displayed an art gallery of paintings. The theme was Digambara Recognition. Rajendra Kamdar and Pravin Doshi from Rajkot, India were extremely helpful since they worked so closely with Digambara Jain Trust of Songadh, Saurastra, India. The exhibit of 75 paintings included the great Digambara Acharyas such as: Kund Swami, and Amrut Chandra Swami. Other pictures included aspects of the life of Bhagwan Mahavir and Samosaran; the Songadh temple complex and Pujya Kanji Swami and Ben Shree Champaben.
Many people viewed the exhibit which expressed the hope that the viewers would practice some of the teachings that were presented in pictorial forms. This presentation would not have been possible without the help of Jain groups from Phoenix and Chicago.
The advisory board consists of Jay Dinshah-American Vegan Society, Maneka Gandhi-People for Animals, Brain Graf-North American Vegetarian Society, Alex Herchaft-FARM, Michael Klaper-Nutrition, Rae Sikora and Zoe Weil-AnimaLearn, Joanne Stepaniak-Vegan Cookbooks and Debra Wasserman-Vegetarian Resource.
At the Vegan Festival
The Vegan Festival of the Vegetarian Union of North America was held in San Diego, CA, from August 6 - 13, 1995. We were invited to present the Jain viewpoints on this subject. Narendra Sheth and Saurabh Dalal represented the Jiv Daya Committee and JAINA.
le Guidelines Maherdra Pandya - Chair
We are happy to announce that the Temple Guidelines Committee will provide murties for any Jain Center that builds a temple per the recommendation of JAINA. Murties of Bhagawan Mahavir, Bhagawan Parshwanath and a Namokar Mantra Shila will be installed in the Jain Center of Buffalo in their Temple on Memorial Day Weekend, 1996.
We then presented an overview of Jainism covering: Navkar Mantra. What is the aim of Jainism? What is the uniqueness of Jainism? What is the profile of Jains in America? What are the religious activities of Jains? What are the criteria of food choices for Jains? The value of human life. The life story of Mahavir Bhagwan. Architecture of Jain temples in India and a session for questions and answers.
Blankets for the Homeless
Jayshree Ranka from the Jain community of Pittsburgh collected $1,200 for blankets for the homeless this winter. Congratulations to Jayshree and many thanks to the efforts of the Pittsburgh Jain Community.
World Community Service Dhiraj Shah - Chair
The appeal for funds in the Jain Digest, March, 1995 for the Women's Center at Mangrol, Gujarat, India has raised only slightly more than $100 for this very worthy cause. This center, which is located in a tribal area and has been served by a dedicated doctor couple, Daxa and Anil Patel, for the past few years, is in need of our help.
This area of India has no medical facilities and this center provides education about birth control and women's health issues; ante-and postnatal care, and training programs for Midwives. The center services as many as 10,000 people. A modest contribution of $25 could mean the difference between life and death of an Adivasis women or children who do not have the means to seek this type of medical care elsewhere. Please send your tax-deductible contribution to: JAINA, 135 Morningside Drive, Grand Island, NY 14072 or to: Shri S. S. Jain Foundation, 46 Ruden Crescent, Don Mills, Ont. M3A 3H3, Canada.
JAINA was named 'Institute of the Year' by the Niagara Falls, NY Chapter of the American Red Cross in June, 1995.
Vegan Businesses
If you are looking to invest your money in stock, of a company that is totally cruelty-free and that supports and promotes the Ahimsak way of life, what stock should you purchase? We would like to advise our readers on this subject. If you know of a company that fits this description, please send the information to Narendra Sheth, 9133 Mesa Woods Avenue, San Diego, CA 92126 or call 619/693-8272.
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JAIN DIGEST
Sept./Dec. 1995
Jain Education Intemational