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DATE: May 2, 2005
LOS ANGELES, CA: Dr.
Mihir Meghani, President of the Hindu American Foundation
(HAF), met with Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the
Simon Wiesenthal Center (http://www.wiesenthal.com/), on April
20, 2005. Dr. Meghani and Rabbi Cooper discussed human rights
problems in general, and those faced by Hindus and Jews in
particular. Rabbi Cooper expressed deep concern at the growing
anti-Semitism in Europe and America, the threat of Islamist
terrorism, and the worrisome decline in the Jewish population
in the U.S. and the consequent loss of and threat to Jewish
identity.
Dr. Meghani highlighted
the problems facing Hindus worldwide. Some of the topics discussed
included laws and government policies in India that unfairly
discriminate against the Hindu majority population and a political
culture that repudiates the 5,000 year old Hindu heritage
of India. He also expressed concern about the non-pluralistic
views of the new Pope, aggressive proselytization campaigns
funded by Christian agencies targeting Hindus and Buddhists,
Islamist terrorism, and Hinduphobia pervasive in the media
and academia worldwide.
Both leaders agreed
to work together to promote tolerance and harmony by continuing
to explore common values and themes that would bring Hindus
and Jews closer together for a better world. Dr. Meghani thanked
Rabbi Cooper for extending his hand of friendship to Hindus
and for his recent visit to India. Rabbi Cooper thanked HAF
for its leadership role in the Hindu American community and
the Hindu civilization for being one of the only civilizations
that in its long history has never persecuted Jews.
For further
information: Please contact
HAF.
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