Jain Digest 2007 11 1

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

Page 27

JAIN DIGEST Winter 2007
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JAINA Education Committee (JEC) Activity Report prices are subsidized due to donations from different donors
Din K ShahINA E -Pravin K. Shah (JAINA Education, Chairperson)
Chen and Shri Hemantbhai Parikh's efforts.
Teachers Convention In order to make Jain principles known to the world at large, Jain literature must be widely made available in English. It is JEC has organized Jain Teachers Conventions to discuss the also necessary to publish it in a variety of mediums (multi- education material, curriculum, and a long term planning for media) for the English-speaking people harboring interest in Pathshala. About 75-80 teachers from various Jain Centers the Jain religion and its scriptures. The JAINA Education attended and participated during each of the 6 JAINA Committee has taken up this task.
conferences. In 1995 and 1997, the Jaina Education Committee under the Jain Education Workshop leadership of Dr. Premchand Gada of Lubbock, Texas published Pravin Shah through Jaina Education Committee and Jain the first two editions of Jain Pathshala books. It took several Study Center of NC offers a 2-3 day workshop to educate years of dedicated hard work and enthusiasm to compile and vouth, adult, pathshala teachers and any one interested in publish these books.
learning Jainism. Since 2000 the mission of JAINA Education is chaired by The workshop has been conducted in Chicago, New York, Pravin K. Shah of Raleigh, North Carolina. As the demand New Jersey, Houston, Atlanta, Washington DC, Phoenix, for books increased in the Päthashäläs of North America, the Columbus, Connecticut, Raleigh, Charlotte and several Jaina current JAINA Education Committee started publishing the YIA and YIP 3rd edition of JAINA Education Series books. A great deal of effort has been put to prepare the revised material. Suggestions
Request for Financial Support received from various Pathshala teachers, educators, and Jaina education committee has built a strong team of Jain students from many Jain centers have been incorporated. Most Pathshala educators, editors, and distributors. It has produced of the books have been rewritten with many additional topics. good quality Pathshala education material, which is now Much care has also been taken to present Jainism in a non- recognized worldwide. We continue to improve our current sectarian way and incorporate the uniqueness of every Jain sect. material and produce additional material. We hope to provide JEC has tried to standardize the spelling of all Jain/Indian words. every Pathshala of North America with appropriate education This was done with the input from several members. The task material needed to teach Jainism from elementary level to was rather challenging, but JEC has tried its best to make the college level. North American Jains have a great reputation for spelling consistent in all books. As the main objective of these supporting humanitarian relief activities, Jivadayä activities, books is to teach Jain principles to youth and lay people, the and temple construction. Now we need your support to build transliteration used here is neither authentic nor consistent the Temple of Knowledge (Jain Gnän Mandir). We request but a simplified diacritical mark scheme has been adopted. It generous contribution from both you individuals and your also serves the purpose of electronic portability.
society. We had sent out letter requesting contribution to all These books have benefited more than 3500 lain youth who centers and this year we collected $9000 of $25000 from one regularly attend Jain Pathshala in about 30 lain centers of North center, Jain Society of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. We are America. JEC provides support to all the Pathshalas of North awaiting donations from other centers also. Please send in America and a few Pathshalas outside North America. The your tax deductible (for USA) contributions to: Jain Pathshalas at Los Angeles, Bay Area (Northern California), Federation of Jaina - Education Committee, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, New Jersey, Toronto, Washington Aun: Pravin K Shah Chairperson. 509 Carriage Woods DC, and Boston centers have 100 to 400 students. There are Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 USA other centers like Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New
"Tele 919-859-4994, e-mail - education@jaina.org York, New Jersey, San Diego, and Connecticut to name a few, where 25 to 75 students learn about Jain religion. The JAINA JEC thanks all members who have helped in this education education material is not copyrighted material. You are free to project. JEC requests Jain community at large who are make copies and we request you to distribute it on a cost / interested in helping in editing, web design, web-support, and non-profit basis.
book distribution to contact at education@jaina.org. If you
have any comments or suggestions or wish to become an active JAINA Education Books - India Project
committee member of JCE, please contact us. All Pathshala books have been reprinted in India for the English
For the list of JAINA Education Books and for all Pathshala speaking young Jains living in India. Shri Hemantbhai Parikh
Education Information and purchasing of books please go to of Ahmedabad has assumed the responsibility of the printing, inventory control, and distribution of the books. The book
www.jaina.org/educationcommitteeleducation material
$$$Pathashala Books/ Jain Education Intemational For Private & Personal Use Only
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