Jai Jinendra and Pranam Sadharmiks,

It is my pleasure to write these opening remarks for the JAINA newsletter. 

As we enter the second half of 2024, I would like to highlight the successful first half of 2024. We, the new JAINA Executive Committee (E.C.), have implemented numerous innovative objectives that we have already made progress on: 

• Technological transformation of our back-office platform has helped to improve communication, collaboration, centralized storage of documents
• JAINA EC has formed an all-star financial council to streamline our accounting system and support the JAINA treasurer in keeping bookkeeping current
• JAINA liaisons have been appointed from JAINA EC to facilitate, support, and improve communication with our numerous committees
• At the beginning of this year JAINA EC has started meeting virtually twice a month to comprehensively discuss and deliberate relevant issues and more expediently make pressing decisions

In other news:

I am very happy to report that this year’s Young Jains of America (YJA) convention was the most successful and well attended YJA convention to date! It was amazing to see record-breaking enthusiasm from our young Jains with over 920 youth attending and over 400 on the waiting list. Kudos to the YJA leadership and convention organization team. We are very proud of our young Jains for their engagement, enthusiasm, and involvement in practicing and preserving Jainism in North America.   

JAINA 2025 convention planning summit was held on June 15,2024, in Chicago with great excitement and enthusiasm. We request you to stay tuned, we will keep you abreast of the developments as we progress. 

JAINA Long Range Planning (LRP) committee organized a very successful JAINA leadership forum in Chicago on April 5-7, 2024. LRP committee has invited project champions from all Jain centers to launch projects and is providing financial assistance for these projects to local Jain centers. 

Through JAINA-JITO Young Jain Exchange Program (YJEP), 14 young Jains are visiting from India though the month of July to experience the Jain way of life as practiced by Jain families in Northern America.

While the world is in turmoil with crime, hatred, poverty, and violence: it is more important than ever to promote Jain principles, raise awareness of Jainism globally, and provide support to local Jain centers to facilitate collaboration and progress. JAINA can play a crucial role in fostering peace and harmony by making meaningful contributions to mankind worldwide. We are committed to helping and supporting local Jain centers for a brighter and more prosperous future in accordance with the principles of Jainism. 

As your elected representatives we strive to be your voice, please let us know how we can serve you better.

In SEVA, on behalf of JAINA E.C., 

Dr. Jayesh Shah 

Regional V.P. West, JAINA 

JAINA director from Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) 

• If you are a Pathshala student of a Jain Center of North America that does not participate in JAB tournament,  

OR

• Studying Jainism with No accessibility to a Jain Center Pathshala within a redius of 50 miles from your home

Then apply to participate in the 'United Jain Center' Team, aimed at enabling more young 

Jains to participate in the Jain Academic Bowl (JAB) Tournament and immerse in the joy of  learning about Jainism.

The team will make its debut at the next JAB tournament, which will be held during the JAINA Convention in 2025 in Chicago, IL.  

Final deadline to receive this application is July 28, 2024. 

(Age and other restrictions apply

For more info visit: www.Jab.Jaina.org.

Questions? email: jab@jaina.org / Shweta.Daftary@jaina.org 

The Jain Digest committee is pleased to feature two articles that have been published in the June 2024 issue of Jain Digest.  

1. Learnings about Karma from the Story of Maynasundari by Rajkumar Jain
2. Conversation with Philip Wollen

Have a look at the synopsis of the above two articles by clicking here.

Community Events @ Jain Society of San Diego (JSSD)   

From June 7th to 9th, the JSSD Sangh had its biggest ever offsite retreat at Camp Cedar Falls in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. Over 160 members participated in the activities that not only entertained but also embodied the principles of Jainism. These included yoga & meditation, hikes, volleyball, and garba and dandiya. We enjoyed Jain/Vegan meals, courtesy of the Seventh Day Adventist staff. The retreat not only helped newer families connect with the Sangh but strengthened our community as a whole. Cherry on the top was watching and celebrating India's Twenty20 win over arch rival Pakistan ! 

Pathshala Felicitation Day  

On June 2nd, the Annual Felicitation Day was celebrated at JSSD Pathshala, marking the session's end. The gathering, consisting of  over 250 people, included more than 110 students, their families, teachers, and volunteers who came together to honor achievements and enjoy the festivities. The celebration was infused with a touch of magic this year through the Disney theme, which incorporated Jain teachings. 

Jain Society of Greater Cleveland Celebrates 14th Anniversary of Temple   

The temple’s 14th Anniversary Mahotsav and Dhwaja Aarohan were celebrated by the Jain Society of Greater Cleveland over the weekend of June 28 to June 30. Enthusiastic and devoted participation was shown by over 200 members across all age groups. The event was started with melodious bhakti and ghee bolis on Friday, June 28.  

On Saturday, June 29, 18 Abhisheks of all Pratimajis were performed with proper vidhis and special waters prepared and distributed by youth volunteers. The opportunity to perform 18 Abhisheks of personal Pratimajis brought from home was also provided to members. In the afternoon, auspicious occasion pujas were performed to celebrate the occasion. 

The big day of Dhwaja Aarohan on Sunday, June 30, started early with a varghodo (procession) of the new Dhwaja accompanied by devotional music and dancing. The Sattarbhedi puja was conducted by the Dharmanath Bhagwan Mahila Mandal, and the new Dhwaja was raised with great fanfare and divine chants.  

Jain Study Center of North Carolina (JSCNC) Celebrates Father’s Day  

The Jain Study Center of North Carolina (JSCNC) hosted its traditional Annual Father’s Day picnic at the Rotary Shelter at Ritter Park in Cary, NC on June 16th with more than 110 attendees of all ages to commemorate this day. The day was marked by entertaining and enlightening messages, songs, poems, and musical performances from toddlers, kids, and youth.

The Pathshala children delivered moving speeches highlighting their personal journeys and the key attributes of their fathers that helped them shape into responsible citizens of this world. All games, activities, and lunch were seamlessly managed by an enthusiastic team of seasoned and new women volunteers.  

We are excited to bring you the latest edition of Jain Avenue magazine, filled with insightful articles and thought-provoking content. Here's a sneak peek at what you'll find in this issue: 

1. Editorial: Pratikramana: A Powerful Practice Delve into the profound practice of Pratikramana with Dr. Sejal Shah. 
2. Jainism and Environment Explore the intersection of Jain principles and environmental sustainability with Kishor B. Shah. 
3. Maths Magic in Jainism Bhavin Mehta uncovers intriguing mathematical concepts in Jain philosophy. 
4. Harmony in Diversity: Anekantvada's Path to Social Justice Prof (Dr.) Veenus Jain and Pallavi Mohanan discuss the relevance of Anekantvada in promoting social harmony. 
5. A Change in Diet Frees a Patient with Chronic Acid Reflux Pritesh Mutha shares a transformative dietary experience. 
6. Jainism: A Sustainable and Healthy Lifestyle Kartik Maniar explores how Jainism promotes a sustainable and healthy way of life.
7. Divine Convergence: Jain Philosophy and ESG Principles Ankur Chaturvedi illustrates the alignment of Jain philosophy with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

Plus, don't miss our featured Vegan recipe of Nidhi Nahata and an exclusive video by Rahul Kapoor Jain on Practising Jainism in the right sense. 

Loma Linda University Health proudly announces that Dr. Akshat Jain, a distinguished Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist, has been selected to receive a prestigious honor from the American Society of Hematology (ASH). This recognition is a testament to Dr. Jain’s groundbreaking work, in the field of hematology, particularly his contributions to gene therapy and the treatment of hemoglobinopathies

Recognition by the American Society of Hematology

The American Society of Hematology’s recognition of Dr. Jain is a significant milestone in his career. This honor reflects his outstanding contributions to the field and his unwavering dedication to improving patient care. The ASH award is one of the highest honors in hematology, recognizing individuals who have made substantial advancements in research and clinical practice.