Dear Sadharmik brothers and sisters,
Jai Jinendra!

JAINA Convention Committee is working round the clock to give you an amazing virtual Convention experience. In this virtual Convention, we have something for all age groups. Read about major program highlights like Culture Program, Drama, Eminent Speakers, Spiritual Sessions, Youth, Kids and other entertainment events.  For all Sponsorship opportunities please contact conventionfundraising@jaina.org.

Jain Connect invites you to their first event of the year 2021 on February 6th. The committee is excited to welcome people (ages 24 - 42) with news, games, and activities. Please sign up for the event.

JAINA is truly grateful to everyone who helped us raise $650,000 towards the JAINA Vaiyavach committee to serve our Sadhu & Sadhvi  Bhagwants. We request you to please  help us reach our goal of 2021 to raise One Million Dollars for all the various projects (5 New Vihardhams, 2 renovations of existing vihardhams, one clinic for Sadhu & Sadhvis and three study halls) approved by Vaiayach Committee. These projects are related to the "Vaiyavach" of Sadhu and Sadhvi Bhagwants of all sects.

As a part of Vaiyavach fundraising, JAINA is inviting you to watch an inspirational Hindi Play, "NARVIR" - Saga of Our Solemn Duty, on Valentine's Day - February 14,2021. If you would like to be a sponsor of the play for a donation of $10,000 please contact Mahesh Wadher at 909 376 4027. Each sponsor will be given one minute of air time to speak during the showing of the play on TVASIA, JAINA website, YouTube and Facebook.

JAINA Scouting Committee helps Scout/Scouter to celebrate Scout Sunday virtually on February 7, 2021, with an intention to create a collage image for posterity.

VRG Committee announces the winners of the National Essay Competition conducted in the year 2020. JAINA congratulates the 3 winners, named below, for sharing wonderful thoughts on "Jainism in the Western World – The Beginning, Progress, and the Future. My commitment to take it forward towards the 22nd Century".

Join Ahimsa Center in a virtual celebration of the establishment of Shri Shantinath Endowed Chair in Ahimsa Studies on February 19, 2021. The event will recognize the donors, Prem and Sandhya Jain, Drs. Jasvant and Meera Modi, and Bipin and Rekha Shah, for their generous gift and vision, to advance the ideas of peace and nonviolence.

Join the Ahimsak Eco-Vegan Committee of JAINA for their next webinar, on February 27, 2021. This free webinar subject will be "Eat Green to Go Green: Veganism to Heal Yourself and Heal the Planet".

International School for Jain Studies brings a Teaching for Peace program as well as 3-week and 5-week Summer Programs in India. For all 3 programs, the last application date for rolling admission is February 28, 2021.

JAINA Congratulates Dr. Jayesh Shah for showing amazing leadership in collecting and distributing Sadharmik Bhakti Funds. Upon the successful completion of the project, JAINA Executive Committee has resolved that Sadharmik Bhakti Committee (Ad Hoc Committee) be merged with the World Community Service. The Sadharmik Bhakti Committee will continue its mission under the leadership of the chairman Prakash Mehta of  WCS.

Registration for the YJA Annual Retreat is now open. These virtual retreats will have brand new sessions, exclusive merchandise, surprise activities, and lots of regional bonding.  YJA promises you do not want to miss this once in a lifetime event.

"The Art Of Giving" Listen to this video by Rahul Kapoor Jain explaining how to really give and experience bliss here and now!

Please see below for details or links, if any, on all the above items.

Sincerely,

Mahesh Wadher
JAINA President

JAINA cordially invites you to attend the 21st Biennial JAINA convention to be held virtually from July 1 to 6, 2021. This year JAINA is undertaking a unique approach of opening this convention to the rest of the world. It will be virtually broadcasted across the globe, including to the USA, Canada, India, UK, UAE, Australia, and more. Read all about the Major Progam Highlights, our Convention Speakers, and Unique Sponsorship Opportunities. Click Here for 2021 Convention Details.. JAINA Convention 2020-21 All rights reserved.

Jain Connect hopes everyone has had a wonderful start to their new year. They are excited to kick-off 2021 with their first event on February 6, 2021, at 1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm ET. If you have attended Jain connect events in the past, they can’t wait to welcome you back with new games and activities. The events are for age groups 24 to 42, living in the US or Canada only. All you have to do is to create a profile on the website jainconnect.net and sign up for the event. You can also follow on Instagram and Facebook.
See you on February 6th!

JAINA Vaiyavach Committee is excited to invite you to watch an inspirational play in Hindi “NARVIR – Saga of our Solemn duty” on Valentine's Day - February 14, 2021. It is a story of the previous life of King Kumarpal. The play will be broadcast live on TVASIA, JAINA website www.jaina.org and other social media sites.

If you would like to be a sponsor of the play for a donation of $10,000 please contact Mahesh Wadher at 909 376 4027. Each sponsor will be given one minute of airtime to speak during the showing of the play.

The names of all the donors who have already donated $500 or more towards Vaiyavach projects and any new donations henceforth until February 7th, 2021 will be displayed during the entire play on TV Asia screen, JAINA website, and other social media sites.

With Gurubhagwant's Blessings, we have been able to raise $650,000. Our goal for 2021 is Dollars one Million Dollars. JAINA is truly grateful to all the generous donors who did their part in vaiyavach projects. The fundraising is still ongoing continuing for all the projects related to the “Vaiyavach” of Sadhus & Sadhvi Bhagwant of all sects.

PLEASE CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS BELOW TO JOIN

JAINA.ORG

Facebook

YouTube

TV AISA

Click here to read more about JAINA Vaiyavach Committee

February 7th is Scout Sunday. JAINA Scouting Committee helps you to celebrate Scout Sunday virtually this year with an intention to create a collage image for posterity.

Please send a recent photo of the Scout and/or Scouter in uniform, as you celebrate the Scout Sunday by February 7th, to scouting@jaina.org along with;

1. Scout / Scouter's Name
2. Rank/Position
3. Unit & Council
4. Jain Center Name

The Boys Scout of America Jain Religious Emblem details are at
https://www.jaina.org/page/BSA_emblem_awards

If you have any questions/concerns please contact Scouting Committee Chair, Harshid Shah at hmshah99@yahoo.com.

During the summer and fall of 2020, Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi (VRG) Memorial committee hosted an essay contest, for Jain youth (ages 14 -29 years) in the USA and Canada, on a very interesting topic: “Jainism in the Western World – The Beginning, Progress, and the Future. My commitment to take it forward towards the 22nd Century.”

Shri VRG Committee is pleased to announce the three outstanding youth winners of the National Essay Competition representing different regions of JAINA.

• 1st place Winner - Aneri Shah, Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington ($250 Cash Award)
• 2nd place Winner - Diksha Kurva, Jain Society of Houston ($150 Cash Award)
• 3rd place Winner - Shaan Udani, Jain Center of New Jersey ($100 Cash Award)

See the winners’ photographs and know more about them.

The specific criteria and scoring system were totally independent in their review and the identities of participants were not disclosed to the judges to avoid any chance of bias.

The Committee thanks all Center Presidents, Pathshala Teachers, Judges, Leaders of YJA, YJP, and various Sub-committees, and JAINA Leadership and Board of Directors for their active support for this national initiative to engage Jain youth.

Ahimsa Center invites you to a virtual celebration of the establishment of Shri Shantinath Endowed Chair in Ahimsa Studies and the appointment of Tara Sethia, Professor of History, as the inaugural chair. The event will recognize the donors, Prem and Sandhya Jain; Drs. Jasvant and Meera Modi; and Bipin and Rekha Shah, for their generous gift and vision to advance the ideas of peace and nonviolence.

Date: February 19, 2021 | Time: 5:00-6:15pm PST | Location: Zoom information to be provided. Click here for RSVP

For more information:
Visit https://www.cpp.edu/~ahimsacenter/ahimsa_home.shtml
Contact: events@cpp.edu

Under the guidance of The Ahimsak Eco-Vegan Committee of JAINA is happy to invite you to their next webinar on February 27, 2021, titled "Eat Green to Go Green: Veganism to Heal Yourself and Heal the Planet" with Presentations by Sudhanshu Jain and Dr. Reshma Shah, followed by Discussion and Q and A session. More details in the flyer.

Date: Feb 27, 2021
Time: 09:00 AM Pacific Time
Cost: Free

Register in advance for this meeting to save your spot:
https://tinyurl.com/eatgreen9

International School for Jain Studies brings you a Teaching for Peace program as well as 3-week and 5-week Summer Programs in India. The 10th Annual Teacher Training Program is designed for K-12 teachers, consultants, educators who wish to integrate practical non-violence into their lives, classrooms, and schools, while the 3-week and 5-week Summer Programs are designed for undergraduates, graduates, PhD candidates and Faculty in Religion, Philosophy, South Asian Studies and Anthropology.

For all three programs, the last application date for rolling admission is February 28, 2021.

More details on Teaching for Peace Program.

More details on the 3-week & 5-week Summer Programs.

For Application and other details, visit www.isjs.in.

JAINA thanks Dr. Jayeshbhai for record collection and distribution of Sadharmik Bhakti Funds, and is grateful to him for successfully leading the task of the ad-hoc committee "JAINA Sadharmik Bhakti Funds".

JAINA would like to let the community know that this committee was uniquely formed to help the World Community Services Committee led by Prakash Mehta. On Jan 18, 2021,  JAINA Executive Committee has resolved that Sadharmik Bhakti Committee (Ad Hoc Committee) be merged with the World Community Service. The Sadharmik Bhakti Committee will continue its mission under the leadership of the chairman Prakash Mehta of  WCS.

YJA’s annual retreat season is here! This may not be able to meet in person this retreat season, but this set of virtual retreats looks to be the best YJA ever had. With brand new sessions, exclusive merchandise, surprise activities, and lots of regional bonding, YJA promises you do not want to miss this once in a lifetime event.

Registration is now open! Visit https://yja.org/regionalevents and click on your region’s event to register; spots are limited and you don’t want to miss these events!