Greetings to our Sikh Friends and Neighbours in Newfoundland and Labrador

On November 15, the Sikh community of Newfoundland and Labrador, observed the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (Ji is suffix signifying respect) a great spiritual teacher, a mystic and a poet. Guru Nanak was born in 1469 and died in 1539 in Punjab, India. He was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It is part of Sikh religious belief that the spirit of Nanak's sanctity, divinity, and religious authority had descended upon each of the nine subsequent Gurus when the Guruship was devolved on to them.

Guru Nanak travelled far and wide across Asia teaching people the message of Ik Onkar (ੴ, 'One God'), who dwells in every one of his creations and constitutes the eternal Truth. With this concept, he would set up a unique spiritual, social, and political platform based on equality, fraternal love, goodness, and virtue. Guru Nanak's words are registered in the form of 974 poetic hymns, or shabad, in the holy religious scripture of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, (Sahib is another suffix signifying respect).Japji Sahib (jap, 'to recite'; ) and the Asa di Var ('Ballad of Hope') are some of his famous compositions. His birthday is celebrated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Guru + purab ‘celebration’) , annually across India and all over the world.

In St. John’s, his 555th birthday was celebrated on Sunday November 17 at Newfoundland Sikh Society’s Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) in the town of Logy Bay, followed by traditional Langar (community kitchen). It was attended by approximately 500 people.

(Information submitted by: Rami Wadhwa, Sikh Society of NL)

TOGETHER WE CAN END POVERTY

Articles you will want to read re guaranteed livable basic income –

WELCOME

The Religious Social Action Coalition is a gathering of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and others who seek to eliminate poverty in our province and country.

Our focus: A Guaranteed Livable Income and Fairness Impact Studies (akin to gender impact and environmental impact studies to ensure "fairness for all" in major government policies).

“Shana Tovah” (Happy New Year or ‘Good New Year’, Hebrew translation) to members of our Jewish communities.

Rosh Hashanah, begins with sunset, October 2 and ends with sunset, October 4th and marks the beginning of the new year and ten “days of awe,” culminating with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On Rosh Hashanah, God inscribes the names of those who will live and those who will die in the Book of Life. However, the decision is not final until Yom Kippur, ten days later. The contrast between the two holidays could not be greater: On Rosh Hashanah, Jews eat festive meals and share foods like apples and honey that remind them of the sweetness of life. Yom Kippur is the day of atonement: Jews fast from sundown to sundown, praying to live for another year. As the day progresses, prayers become more intense. Yom Kippur concludes at sundown, when Jews gather to break the fast.

With Jews everywhere, but especially in the Middle East and Canada, we lament the tragic situation there. May this prayer, offered by The Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, be our prayer for them at this critical time.

structure

The Religious Social Action Coalition is comprised of ten directors. There are representatives from the Jewish, Christian, Sikh, Muslim and Hindu religious communities.

the many facets of poverty

DIRECTORS

Poverty is general scarcity or dearth, or the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money.
It is a multifaceted concept, which includes social,economic political elements.
Poverty seems to be chronic or temporary,and most of the time it is closely related to inequality.
As a dynamic concept,poverty is changing and adapting according to consumption patterns,social dynamics and technological change.