Arvind Vora, Chairman of the Interfaith Committee of JAINA attended along with many senior U.S. religious leaders in Boston a meeting to discuss religion, U.S. foreign policy, and international affairs. The meeting was hosted by the Council of Presidents of the USCRP and grew from increased concerns over the role religion has played in U.S. policy decisions since the Cold War, and, particularly, since 9/11 and the advent of the Iraq-War-II. In order to foster honest and frank discussion, it was a confidential meeting. Representatives spoke from the perspective of their traditions, but often spoke only as individuals and not representatives of their traditions. Arvind Vora spoke of Ahimsa- the message of Jainism as the only way to bring peace. He said to the delegates: “Live in Peace, Practice Peace and Teach Peace.”

You will soon be receiving a beautiful JAINA CALENDAR. Thanks to Rajeev Pandya and his team for doing a superb job in executing this project. Thanks also to Lataben who has greatly improved JAINA-AT-A GLANCE which is available on our website.

Yogendra Jain, Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, is working hard with his committee members. He is going to come up with new ideas and fresh thinking for JAINA leadership.

We have established two new committees: (1) Legal Advisory Committee (2) Media/Public Relations Committee. Both of these committees are going to fill a long-term void that has existed in our operations. As we grow, we may need help in legal area as well as in media and public relations. I am happy to inform you that Prakash Parekh (NY attorney), Neel Shah (NJ attorney) and Nitin Talsania (NJ) have agreed to help us on a volunteer basis in their respective committees.

I would like to wish you all and your loved ones a fantastic holiday and a Happy New Year.

Best Regards,
Anop Vora

The Sixth Biennial Young Jains of America (YJA) Convention will be held July 1st-4th, 2004 in sunny California. The convention's goal is to serve as a forum where youth can openly learn and discuss the ideals of Jainism to help further incorporate the religion into their daily lives.

To be held in the Bay Area, the activities of the 4-day convention will center around the theme, "Y JAin? To See, To Know, To Realize." Often, today's youth question why they should practice Jainism or how they can apply Jainism into their everyday lives. The convention will help the participants answer these questions by introducing the daily activities they experience (To See), discussing Jainism's interpretation of these events (To Know), and combining the two into our daily reality (To Realize).

End of the year is time for reflection and for realigning our life to our true goal in the new year. Let us pray that we are granted the wisdom and the courage of our conviction to follow the path of the liberated ones.

In the last issue of JAINA SPECTRUM a report on Retirement community was given. It has been pointed out to me that the readers should be made aware that JAINA is "not participating" in the Clearwater project. And Jaina has no financial interest in Florida project and parties need to conduct their own evaluation of the project before investing in it.

Month of January is especially busy for many JAINA activities here and in India such as Medical camps and the Pilgrimage from Jaisalmer to Palitana. Many JAINA leaders are visiting India during that month and I will be in India for most of the January and part of February. Consequently, JAINA SPECTRUM will not be published in January. See you in February. If you have any comments or wish to have any news you think may be of interest to Jain community here, please email it to me: dilipvshah@aol.com

Dilip V Shah,
Philadelphia
December 24, 2003