FEZANA FEZANA JOURNAL PAIZ 1380 AY 3749 ZRE VOL. 25 NO. 3 FALL/SEPTEMBER 2011 G FALL/SEPTEMBER 2011 JOURJO N AL Mehr – Avan – Adar 1380 AY (Fasli) G Ardebehesht – Khordad – Tir 1381 AY (Shenhai) G Khordad – Tir – Amordad 1381 AY (Kadimi) Communal Giving in North America The Kamran Dar-e-Mehr under construction in Boyds, Maryland Also Inside: 5th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress ZSC’s 7th Unity Cup Soccer Tournament Young Mobeds Perform Interactive Jashan Conservation of Zoroastrian Manuscripts PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA Vol 25 No 3 Fall / September 2011 Paiz 1380 AY 3749 ZRE President Bomi V Patel www.fezana.org Editor in Chief: Dolly Dastoor 2 Editorial [email protected] Technical Assistant: Coomi Gazdar Dolly Dastoor Assistant to Editor: Dinyar Patel Consultant Editor: Lylah M. Alphonse, [email protected] 3 Message from the President Graphic & Layout: Shahrokh Khanizadeh, www.khanizadeh.info 5 FEZANA Update Cover design: Feroza Fitch, [email protected] 14 Financial Report Publications Chair: Behram Pastakia Columnists: H. Shroff: [email protected] Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi : 18 Communal Giving [email protected] Yezdi Godiwalla: [email protected] Behram Panthaki: [email protected] 50 Youth Congress Behram Pastakia: [email protected] Mahrukh Motafram: [email protected] 63 In The News Copy editors: R Mehta, V Canteenwalla Subscription Managers: Arnavaz Sethna: [email protected]; 81 Interfaith /Interalia Kershaw Khumbatta [email protected] 85 Personal Profiles Winter 2011 Contemporary Communal Issues 87 North American Mobeds’ Council Spring 2012 Transformation Guest Editor Kersi Shroff 89 Milestones Summer 2012 25th Anniversary Souvenir Issue 96 Between the Covers Mehr- Avan – Adar 1380 AY (Fasli) Ardebehesht – Khordad – Tir 1381 AY (Shenhai) Khordad - Tir – Amordad 1381 AY (Kadimi) Photo on cover: Opinions expressed in the FEZANA Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of FEZANA or Photo Credit members of this publication's editorial board. All submissions to FEZANA JOURNAL become Mark Fitch property of FEZANA Journal and, as such may be reproduced in subsequent issues of FEZANA Journal, in articles referring to FEZANA Journal, or online electronically. Cover design Lexicongraphics Published at Regal Press, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada FEZANA Journal Vol 25, No 3 ISBN 1068-2376 (USPS 021-495) published quarterly by FEZANA 5750 S. Jackson St Hinsdale Il 60521-5109. Periodical postage rate is paid at Oakbrook, IL 60523 and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription $25 (US) ; $25 (Canada) and $50 (air) for other countries; details on subscription form. POSTMASTER: send changes to Fezana Journal, 8787 W. Airport Blvd. Houston, TX 77071 1 FEZANA JOURNAL – Fall 2010 A word from the Editor It is giving that we receive our giving, Zain greatest gift Mavalwala and his team of The cover story of the spring issue of the dedicated FEZANA Journal Vol 25 No 1 outlined the Role volunteers need and Responsibility of Philanthropy, we talked of to be "constructive philanthropy" we talked of people congratulated for living the Yatha ahu variyo in their daily lives and a job well done . the Zarathushti ethos of "love of mankind" And the 13 young And yet there was so much more to share with mobeds and one you, that we decided to dedicate the FALL issue female mobedyar to the Culture of Communal Giving, with John Dr Parva Hinnels writing on Zoroastrian Benevolence : Namiranian from Parsi Charities in the 19th and 20th Century, and Iran also gave to Homi Dhalla giving us fresh perspectives on Sir the community in Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, the renaissance man, his participating in pioneering efforts at institutional philanthropy, and the interactive on the Corporate social responsibility of the jashan organized House of Tatas, But communal giving is not the by Ervad Soli Dastur, This was a gift of knowledge prerogative of the rich only but in the nameless , bestowed on the community. everyday acts of kindness as brought to our We all give in our own individual way but we attention by Rusi Sorabji, and by Dinaz Rogers in need to cultivate an ethic of collective giving as the story of her maternal grandmother. And yet suggested by Rohinton Rivetna,"Our faith again there are Zarathushtis all over the world encourages the accumulation of wealth as long who quietly do philanthropic acts year in and year as it is used for good and charitable out without any expectation of reward or purposes,..the more you give the more you recognition, Khodamorad Kamran of Bethesda receive." If each Zarathushtis on this continent for the Dar-e mehr (see cover) and communal gave only $20 annually how much would we be burial lots, Eruch Munchi for maintenance of the able to collect in one year to use for the growth Atashbehrams in Udvada, Navsari, Surat and and development of the community around the Mumbai, Yasmin and Jamshed Ghadiali and world. Homai Kasad for supporting the B.D Petit .Parsee General Hospital, Fali and Pam Shroff, for Let me end with a quote from Khalil Gibram supporting the Nassesalars , Godrej Billimoria, “You often say I would give to the deserving. The Mehru and Minu Patel (Vol 25 No1) Alayar trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in Dabestani, Jerry and Celeste Kheradi (all of North your pasture. They give that they may live for to America), Rustom Chothia, the Mancherji Joshi withhold is to perish" . Memorial Trust, the WZO Trust of India, I wish you many happy hours of giving of your Pourchista Foundation of Yazd and the ASHA time, talent and money without being asked Centre organized by Zerbanoo Gifford of England. And we must not forget our young who are putting in practice the Yatha ahu variyo prayers, Ariane Khanizadeh and Tina Unwalla, in this issue Timeless voluntary hours spent in organizing and participating in the 5th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress in Vancouver is also communal 2 FEZANA JOURNAL — Fall 2010 A Message from FEZANA President As I prepare to attend the Global Working Group conference, with Rohinton Rivetna and Behram Pastakia representating FEZANA I would like to recall the joint press release whose positive tone explains the activities of the last meeting. Global Working Group of Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians Meets in Mumbai, Hamazori Rekindled The Coming Together Round Table (CTR), a legacy of the 8th World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) at London, now renamed the Global Working Group, met in Mumbai on January 8 and 9, with elected community members from Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE), Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) / Federation of Parsee Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) and representatives of United Arab Emirates (UAE), World Zoroastrian Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) and others, including special invitees. The meeting was a follow-up emanating from the 9th WZC held in Dubai in December 2009. It was unanimously agreed that the Parsi/Irani Zarathushti identity should be strengthened globally, by upholding our culture, traditions and religious beliefs. A power point presentation made on the issue of Parsi identity in North America, was thought-provoking and gave a new insight into the issue. A Global Exchange Programme for teenagers, young adults and young professionals to be held annually, so that the Parsi/Irani identity is further strengthened. An integrated community database be established via a universal Parsi/Irani Zarathushti portal. The participating bodies agreed to share the cost towards this important project. An impetus to be offered in the area of education, with assistance toward admission into prominent Parsi schools, colleges and institutions. It was decided to supplement the income of priests in order to encourage young boys to join the priestly schools, with the BPP and other well wishers making a commitment of additional resources. creating religious scholars for the next generation. In my opinion the representative and the leaders of world federations have understood and recognized the crux of our community problems which will be further discussed in details at the London 2011 meeting. It is my sincere wish that all worldwide associations do come to the table and join the "Global Working Group" in future meetings, in the continuing spirit of Hamazori. I congratulate and thank Mr. Malcolm Deboo President of ZTFE for hosting the GWG conference. In 2012 FEZANA will be celebrating its "Silver Jubilee". with special events including the 16th. North American Zoroastrian Congress in New York. FEZANA will propose at the London meeting that the next Global Working Group conference be held in New York 2012 prior to the congress. FEZANA is now on Face book and on Twitter. Monthly FEZANA Bulletin is also available electronically to all. To get a copy, please update your personal information including your e-mail address in the North American Directory on www.fezana.org. Individuals from other countries can register your request with [email protected]. I invite you to send me your thoughts for the progress and betterment of our North American Zarathushti community and what role you would like to play to ensure a successful outcome. Best Wishes. Bomi FEZANA JOURNAL – Fall 2010 3 Death The Dar-e-Mehr in Boyds, Maryland, pictured on the cover of the fall 2011 issue of the Journal spotlights the generosity of Mr. Khodamorad Kamran and his family. Such exemplary philanthropy inspires us as we continue to build the infrastructure required to sustain the future generations of Zarathushtis in North America. This brings to mind a story of another singular act of kindness by the same individual in the fall of 2004. Humanizing Our Grief Faced with the tragedy of losing his child, a father found the Parklawn Cemetery in Rockville, Maryland which he thought was very good not only for a family burial plot but as a communal resting place for Zarathushtis.