JA I N SO C I E T Y OF TO R O N T O IN C.48 Rosemeade Avenue, Etobicoke, ON M8Y 3A5 - (416) 251-8112 - info@jsotcanada.org

November 2010 Community Newsletter

Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak!

We would like to thank the en re community for your im-mense support in making the JSOT Inc. Diwali Gala 2010 a huge success. This event was a ended by almost 700 people!

With your generosity, the silent auc on raised $2,068. It is with great apprecia on that we thank all the anonymous donors for all their contribu ons. Thank you for all the lovely Prizes, Table Sponsors, our community’s talented ar st Anisha for the beau ful Rangoli, the Best Dressed compe on win-ners Mital Vora and Ritu Jain for their vibrant costumes and enthusias c par cipa on, and Amit and Sheena Shanghavi for the memorable pictures seen here.

We wish you and your families a wonderful year ahead full of smiles, laughter and happiness!

The Annual Youth Ski Camp is Back!The Young Jains of Toronto present The Annual Youth Ski Camp 2011. The camp will be at the Mansfi eld Outdoor Centre in Mansfi eld, ON from February 18-20, 2011. This event is open to all youth ages 10 and up! Spots are limited so reserve yours now for $80 un l January 20 or pay $95 a er. Enjoy lots of fun ac vi es in the great outdoors with other youth from our community and beyond. For more informa on and to register contact Shaloni or Prianka today!

S SH: (905) 712-8326M: (647) 389-8326shaloni_shah@hotmail.com

P KH: (905) 501-9799M: (416) 917-6839prianka.kalraiya@live.com

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity to See All of TheseWhyNot Theatre Stage Produc ons! theatrewhynot.org

Drop-off will be at the Walmart parking lot at HWY 7 and Jane St. at 6:30 pm sharp on Friday, Febru-ary 18 and Pick-up will be at the same loca on on Sunday February 20 at approximately 4:30 pm.

Don’t wait, take advantage of this amazing opportu-nity for our youth and register NOW!

The Odyssey by Homer -Jan 24-31, 2011 Presented by Theatre Ad Infi nitum (UK) at the Tarragon Theatre

Spent - Oct 29 to Nov 28 2010 at the Factory Studio Theatre

Ismat Apa Ke Naam fea-turing Naseeruddin Shah - Feb 2011 at the Bramp-ton Rose Theatre 2

JSOT I ’ D N Y C

N 5-7, 2010

Mahavir Nirvana Kalyanak Celebra- on with Stage Show

This was the fi rst me in our history that Mahavir Prabhu’s Nirvana Kalyanak was cel-ebrated like this.

Snatra Mahotsav Stage Show

Lakshmi & Saraswa Poojan Poojan was performed on stage as well as on fl oor level with 50 families together!

New Year Manglik & Gautam Swami Raas On Saturday & Sunday (Nov 6-7), we had Swami Vatsalya with more than 600 members to celebrate in these fes vi es!

On the evening of Sunday November 7, our youth per-formed their talents in a special show featuring Stu , Navkar, Sutras and more all at the Derasar!

3

World Premiere of “Monument of Peace - Jain Temple and Medi-ta on Centre Enhancing the Glory of Belgium”A Jain Documentary Film

On the auspicious occasion of the Antwerp (Belgium) Jain Mandir Pra stha, Antwerp’s Jain community wanted to telecast a documentary fi lm crea ng awareness about Jainism and Antwerp’s New Jain Temple & Medita- on Centre as many Belgian government offi cials and others were about to a end the pra stha func on. The

Jain Cultural Centre of Antwerp did not want to compromise on quality and wanted the fi lm to leave a las ng impression on its viewers. Hence Antwerp’s Jain Sangh approached prominent Jain scholars, Dr. Bipinji Doshi and Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh and formally proposed the project to them. Documentary director Hiten Sobha

Trivedi was then introduced to the scholars by the sangh. Dr. Bipinji Doshi specially felt that this docu-mentary fi lm should also highlight the glory of Belgium and should introduce Jainism, Jain ethics, Jain way of life, etc. to the western world.

The project’s main mentors Dr. Bipinji Doshi and Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh spent one month researching Bel-gium’s history, conceptualizing and

scrip ng the documentary fi lm. Director Hitenji Sobha Trivedi researched some important historic visual foot-age. This team worked relessly for another month resul ng in an awesome documentary fi lm on Belgium and Jainism.

To view this amazing short 20 minute documentary fi lm search “Antwerp Monument of Peace” on youtube.com.

1992The Jain Cultural Centre of Antwerp (VZW) was formed and land for temple and medita on centre purchased.

1996Construc on of the temple began.

2007Anjanshalaka took place on 31 January and was performed by Jain Saints: Acharyashri Subodhsagarji, Achary-ashri Manohar Kiri Sagarsuriji, Acharyashri Udaykir sagarsuriji and Shri Narendra Hiralal.

2008On 25 August, the idols were brought to Antwerp by air followed by a huge procession.

2010On 27 August pra stha was performed. 4

Regular Temple HoursThe temple is open for darshan according to the following hours: Mon-Thu: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm; Fri: 9:30 to 11:30 am; Sat-Sun: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. You may reach temple incharge, Naresh Shah during the above hours at (416) 748-8021.

Nareshbhai Shah will be on the vaca on from November 21, 2010. In the interim, the temple will be open as follows: Mon-Fri 5-7 pm (upon request); Sat 9:30 am to 12:30pm; All Sun for regular programs un l 4 pm. For any other mes please contact: Shreepal Badami at (289) 232-9216 / (416) 912-9216 or Devang Shah at (416) 244-2714 / (416) 846-5837. Thank you!

Shree Jain Mandir Key LostOn the day of Samvatsari Pra kraman, we had arranged children’s Pra kraman at the Shree Jain Mandir (Parklawn Rd.). Hemaben handed over the key to a lady to open the temple but she did not return the key. Please return the key as soon as possible to Hemaben whoever forgot to return it. You can reach Hemaben Shah at hemaoman@yahoo.com - (905) 738-8445.

Booking The Jain CentreFor poojas or any other booking needs please contact our JSOT Inc. Religious Coordinator Shreepal Badami(289) 232-9216 - sdbadami@rediff mail.com.

Please also book Snatra Poojas through Shreepalbhai, you may contact the following members to perform Snatra Pooja: Purnima & Bharat Shah - (905) 709-2648 or Vasant & Shadhna Sheth - (289) 304-9848

Check for exis ng bookings at: h p://jsotcanada.org/events.

The JAIN Train Powered By SEVA!

Mahavir Jayan

Picnic

Paryushana & Das-Lakshana

Drama & Performance

Diwali Gala 2010 &

Garba

Peaceful Unity Gar-den Day

If you can and would like to volunteer at the temple in any

way, please send us an email at info@jsot-canada.org. Youth volunteers currently in high school will re-ceive volunteer hours for their contribu on. 5

Upcoming Community Events

November 20The weekly Jain TV show “Mangalam” on Sahara One channel (available through Rogers Cable channel 580) is broadcas ng the life journey of respected Acharya Shri Chandanaji in a 2-part series on Saturday, Novem-ber 20 and 27 at 9 am (EST). These programs will be repeated on Tuesday, November 23 and 30 at 11 am (EST).

November 20Chaumasi Chaudas programme will progress on Saturday as follows: Snatra Pooja 10 am to 12 pm, Akasana 12-2 pm, Dev Vandan 2:30 pm onwards, Pra kraman 6:30 to 7:30 pm. All are invited to par cipate in the Snatra Pooja with proper pooja a re. There will be Ghee Boli for Ar and Shan Kalash. Provisions for Akasana will be made, lunch will also be served. Please do not forget to RSVP for lunch to: Hetal Shah, (647) 520-1132 or Heena Badami, (289) 232-9216 or Chimanbhai Shah, (905) 770-1351.

November 21Kar k Sud Poonam Patdarshan programme will progress on Sunday as fol-lows: Patdarshan 10-11 am, Snatra Pooja 11 am to 12:30 pm.

Swami Vatsalya will be followed by Special Bhak as planned on the occa-sion of Shrimad Rajchandra Janma Jayan from 3 pm onwards.Please RSVP (to avoid food wastage) to:Yamini Panchal, (416) 820-7567 or Pradip Shanghavi, (905) 294-4312.

November 28Samayik at the Jain Centre from 10 am to 2 pm. This program recurs on the fourth Sunday of every month.

December 5Mahavir Pooja conducted in Hindi at the Jain Centre from 11 am to 2 pm. This program recurs on the fi rst Sunday of every month.

December 11Birthday celebra on previously scheduled for November 20 has been cancelled, this monthly program will resume on Saturday, December 11. Kids Birthday celebra ons - 4 pm at the Jain Centre. Parents interested in celebra ng their child’s Birthday at the Jain Centre can register with: Mina, mkalraiya@yahoo.com - (905) 501-9799 orAsha, ashajn@yahoo.com - (905) 281-1966. The more the merrier!

December 18Next Ayambil is on Saturday December 18, Magsar Sud 13. Snatra Pooja starts at 10:30 am followed by Ayambil. Those who want to do Ayambil please inform one of the following members: Pushaben Shah, (905) 770-1351 or Lalitaben Doshi, (905) 828-9922. 6

News from Rajkot: Param Pujya Janak Muniji MaharajOn November 3, Param Pujya Janak Muniji Maharaj of Gondal Sampraydaya suff ered a major heart a ack. He was unconscious and in cri cal condi on with only 10-20% chances of im-provement.

What seemed like gloom and doom suddenly became a sign of hope. As if a miracle happened, he regained consciousness, opened his eyes, immediately sat up and ques oned as to why he was brought to the hospital. He was always opposed to any medical interven on and had he

not been unconscious, it would not have been pos-sible to take him to the hospital. His chances seem be er now and his heart condi on has improved from 10-20% to about 50%. The picture shown here (Maharajji si ng up like a “lion” as if nothing ever happened) was taken with a cell phone by a mu-mukshu who was able to go into the ICU and visit with Maharajji. Pujya Janak Muniji Maharaj is well known for his transparency and outspokenness saying things in public that others would be fearful of saying. In the mid to late nine es, he had openly spoken about the rise of India (“Bharat no jagat my uday thawa no samay aavi rahyo che”) when it was hard to dream of such a thing. When told that there was less possibili-ty of that happening in the near future as there were no signs of it, he would say “buddhi nu ganit judu che ane adhyatma nu ganit judu che...Aa vaat budhi-janya nathi...tamne samaj nahin pade...na maanwa

ma aa ve tevu thawa ni sambhavna che ha ve “). The rest is history. What was once unthink-able happened and is s ll happening in front of our eyes. About 14 years ago, there had been a 2-day summit of [east-west] leaders in India led by Pujya Janak Muniji Maharaj and Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj, mee ng for the fi rst me, with hun-dreds of Sadhus and Sadhvis in a endance. Bandhu Tripu Maharajji had also accompanied Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj. At that me, Pujya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj had requested Pujya Janak Muniji Maharaj that “if someone of his high caliber helped lead the Jains in North America and outside India, Jain Dharma would get the worldwide recogni on it deserved”.

Let us pray for the fullest and speediest recovery of Param Pujya Janak Muniji Maharaj and seek his blessings for our Atma Kalyan.

7

New Year Message from the PresidentJai Jinendra! Happy Diwali & Saal Mubarak to All and Your Families Near and Far!

This New Year, brings me great hope, the relief of renewal and an immense feeling of confi dence. Some of you may care to know why.

I have been thinking about the truest message to share with you here for a while. What I have witnessed, is the nudging feeling of commitment keeps bringing herself to my a en on. What is Commitment really? And why is it so relevant at this me? How can I share my commitment? and what exactly am I commi ed to? I have learned in the last handful of months as President of Jain Society of Toronto Inc., that Commitment is the fuel. the energy. the Light of our hope.

The direc on that we need to restore what is so good about Jainism and her people. Commitment is the resolve that one keeps close in our heart, the silent loud voice in our head that keeps us in the game. Commitment is the juice we drink when we are starving of progress, of results, of accomplishment. Commitment is our best friend. She holds our hands when we cry and puts our hand in the hand of our enemy to make peace. Commitment is the jaw clenching determina on we feel when we are ready to dust ourselves off of the mud as we rise to meet our challenges. Commitment is the cycle of life where we renew ourselves to come back for another round to make it work ...again and again...un l it DOES work.

She is our cause, our reason, our purpose and our guide. She will make sense of all things that do not make sense. She will fi nd a way, a direc on, a new stone to overturn un l we get there. I have visited my Commit-ment bank o en since I took this posi on. I have withdrawn many a me, ounce by ounce a glass of Commit-ment every challenge that I have faced.

I would like to thank all those of all of you that really nurtured their commitment along with me. Whether by vol-unteering at one of our many temple events, Mahavir Jayan , the Picnic, Pathsala, Paryshan, the Varghodo, The Diwali Gala, The extra special Diwali programme at our temple, cleaning the yard, cleaning the temple, mowing the grass, raking the leaves, plan ng our garden, working with various third par es, educa ng our outer com-munity, performing Snatra Pooja, conduc ng any pooja, watching our temple, your reverence, public speaking, a ending conferences, cooking for us, raising awareness, promo ng our cause, building memorials, leading our children, caring for our seniors, selling ckets, refraining from violence, serving food with care and a en on, spreading our word, insuring our fi nancial capacity and accuracy by reforming our transparency logis cs and ul mately our adherence to a Professional Standard of Accoun ng Prac ce, conduc ng our Ski camp, being veg-etarian, off ering email and/or verbal feedback, maintaining and enhancing our physical and legal security, stay-ing cool and collected, installa on of a premium audio/visual system, a ending our monthly mee ngs, a end-ing emergency mee ngs, dona ng to the temple, dona ng items, raising funds, applying your skills, building someone else’s confi dence, spreading encouragement, rallying more ac vity based sharing of friendship, ideas and culture, living in love, forming new rela onships, pulling resources, promo ng peace with peace, thinking outside of the box or.... just a ending the temple with your smile.

I ask of each of you this New Year, to RESTORE YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR VERY OWN TEMPLE AND TO ONE ANOTHER. Do not fail. Gather yourselves together, stand strong, united and most of all with your blinding in-ternal Light that you are willing to shine on your brothers and sisters. Our Children need you. Our Seniors need you. I need you. We need you. Our Temple needs you.

Peace & Light,

Arpana Vora, President JSOT INC. 8

JAINA’s 2011 Shikharji Yatra (Revised Plan)

Deadline for registra on for JAINA’s Yatra 2011 is November 25, 2010. The Yatra will start from Calcu a on January 21 and end in Delhi on February 6. In addi on to Shri Shikharji, we will visit Rujuvalika, Rajgir, Veerayatan, Pawapuri, Lachhwad, Kundalpur, Guniyaji, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, Banaras, Agra and Has napur and end in Delhi. During this yatra we will be visi ng 65 Kalyanakbhoo-mis.

The yatris will also be able to par cipate in the Amrut Mahotsav - 75th Birthday of Acharya Shri Chandanaji. Veeraytan is planning a medical camp in Pawapuri for the 75,000 poor and needy of Rajgir and Pawapuri districts with an emphasis on malnourished children and eyecare camp for 3,000. This will be a memorable experience for yatris on the very land where Bhagwan Mahavir spent four Chaturmas. The planned capacity of the yatra is 100,

applicants will be served on a fi rst come fi rst served basis so act soon. The per person cost of the en re ground package in India (lodging, boarding and land travel) will be $1250 (in-cluding $100 for Yatra fund for dona ons to places we visit and JAINA’s administra ve fee

of $50.00). Pandit Dhirajlal Mehta will be joining us as a scholar during the yatra. JAINA YATRA is an excellent opportunity to invite your friends and family members to India to join with you in fulfi ll-ing a life long dream of yatra to our Saswat Teerth. If you would like to join the yatra or get more informa on, please contact the pilgrimage commi ee by wri ng to dilipvshah@gmail.com or call-ing (215) 561-0581. More details and the registra on forms will be available on the JAINA website under the event page: h p://www.jaina.org/event/jaina2011yatra.

Message from the EditorDeadline for all submissions for the next month’s newsle er is the last Wednesday of each Month. Newsle er will be delivered on the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

Please feel free to write your comments about this or future publica on to our editorat suparsh_jain@yahoo.com. Thank you for reading!

The Jain Society of Toron-to joins with the rest of Canada in commemorat-ing the remembrance of all our soldiers who serve Canadians and help peo-ple of other na ons.

We pray for and honour the fallen and all those who are risking their lives everyday for a be er world.

We pray for the end of all war, confl ict and violence around the wolrd and that it will be followed by a beginning of peace and harmony.

9

JSOT Inc.’s Management Commi ee

JSOT Inc. Management Com-mi ee (April 2010-2012)

Por olio JSOT Inc. Management Com-mi ee (April 2010-2012)

Por olio

Arpana Vora - Presidentarpana7@hotmail.com(416) 622-4762

Fundraising Team Lead; Newsle er & Website Cre-a ve Develop-ment

Smita Shah - MC Membersmitamilan@gmail.com(905) 886-8446

Events Team

Nimesh Shah - Vice Presidenthemanimesh@yahoo.com(905) 864-1818

Volunteer ChairMember Ser-vices Chair

Manav Jain - MC Membermanavjain7@yahoo.com(289) 997-3016

Community Outreach Chair

Devang Shah - Secretarydevangkumarshah@yahoo.ca(416) 244-2714

J.D. Shah - Ex-Ofi ciojdshah47@gmail.com(905) 886-7960

Hema Shah - Treasurerhemaoman@yahoo.com(905) 738-8445

Religious Coor-dina on Team

Jigna Chheda - Women’s Rep.jigna.chheda@rogers.com(905) 819-8247(647) 878-4898

Fundraising Team JSOT Inc. Board of Directors Por olio

Suparsh Jain - Youth Rep.suparsh_jain@yahoo.com(647) 896-5246

Technology Chair• Newsle er• Website

Ajay Shah - Chair of Boardhomekey123@yahoo.ca(416) 741-1796

Fundraising Team

Pritam Mehta - MC Memberunclepritam@yahoo.com(416) 277-8496

Building Man-agement Chair

Bharat Shah - Board Memberbharatshah@rogers.com(905) 881-4400

Fundraising Team

Manish Dhami - MC Membermanis1996@yahoo.com(647) 887-5246

Pathshala Chair Smita Vora - Board Memberanilvora@hotmail.com(905) 539-0666

Events Team

Shreepal Badami - MC Membersdbadami@rediff mail.com(289) 232-9216

Religious Coor-dina on Team Lead

Jaswant Shah - Board Memberpjshah9@yahoo.ca(416) 439-3086

Nayan Shah - MC Membernayan@canleafusa.com(905) 237-6222

Events Team Lead

Ramesh Jain - Board Memberrcjain99@gmail.com(905) 502-9329

Legal & Cons -tu onal Advice Chair

© 2010 JSOT Inc.

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