[Histemple] Close the Year by Supporting the Temple : Your Most Precious Community Asset

[histemple at histemplemn.org]

*Dear Community Members,*

        *
        Namaste!*

                     It is hard to believe that the Temple in its
        current premises has completed 12 years! We have come a long way
        in the past dozen years during which we have amply fostered the
        3 C’s of Connection, Community and Charity, the essentials of an
        ideal gathering of people as Dr Amit Ghosh elegantly expounded
        in his Vote of Thanks during the recent Diwali program.

        The Temple has been successful in connecting people with each
        other and with the larger community we live in. Our community
        members are highly regarded and respected citizens not only of
        Rochester but also of our country and the world, and the Temple
        has provided us with a sense of identity. The Temple has made us
        feel at home and for our children, networking with peers from
        the community, practicing together for cultural performances or
        attending Sunday school have been priceless experiences that
        have been critical to molding their worldview.


        The Indian-American community in Rochester is diverse and this
        diversity is our strength. Our community’s greatest gift to
        America would be to share this concept of “unity in diversity”
        which is the essential ethos of Indian-ness or “The Idea of
        India”. This needs to be preserved and nurtured even as we
        become part of the melting pot that is America. We should use
        our intelligence, diversity, culture and tradition to be of
        service to other Americans and benefit all of us in the process.

        The Temple’s mission would not be possible without charity in
        the form of donation of /tan/, /man/ and /dhan/ (body, mind and
        wealth). Community volunteers have donated innumerable hours to
        keep the Temple running and help our community. In return,
        benefactors have donated money, recognizing the great value in
        the institution.

        Charity helps us to grow as a community. Just 15 years ago we
        held pujas in rented halls. We bought our current premises in
        2003. In anticipation of future growth we bought nearly 8 acres
        of land in 2009 when land prices were at a record low. Now, as
        we outgrow our current space, we are working on building a new
        community center and Temple on the recently bought land. As is
        clear from Dr Pri Shah’s excellent presentation on the funding
        plan for the community center as depicted below, this will only
        be only possible through a collective community effort.


        The time is ripe to invest in ourselves and our community so
        that we may serve the larger community we live in. Let each one
        of us ask ourselves what we can do to foster this great
        community asset. The various opportunities to give are listed
        here <http://www.histemplemn.org/NewTemple.html>

        <http://www.histemplemn.org/NewTemple.html>

        No contribution is too small or too big. The potential and
        realities are endless. Ladies and gentleman congratulate
        yourself on being part of this great community and, above all,
        let us celebrate the 3 c’s – connections, community and charity.

        *Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Wonderful 2016!*

*Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees, Hindu Samaj Temple*


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