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Sikh Temple of the Fox Valley Joins ESTHER

sikh temple signESTHER welcomes the Sikh Temple of the Fox Valley as a new faith-community member of ESTHER. The Menasha-based temple is led by Priest Bhagwant Singh Balli and Dr. Kamaljit Paul, president of the Board of Trustees. Sunday services at the temple are open to everyone (with heads covered, out of respect) and are usually followed by a meal.

Sikism is a monotheistic, South Asian religion based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and his followers. Nanak lived near what is now the border between India and Pakistan in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

In a caste-ridden society, Guru Nanak rejected the idea of caste, and ate with all people. He taught that salvation comes not from extreme religious practices or rituals, but from living one’s ordinary life in an ethical way. He also taught that all people are equal and that one should be generous in giving to the poor. Even today, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar—the most important center of the Sikh religion—members of the congregation serve a free meal each day to more than 50,000 people, and everyone eats together with no separation of castes.

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