History-Bahais in Israel

Introduction
One of the very important chapters in the political record of Bahai Faith is the sincere relations and close cooperation of the leaders of the sect with Zionists in general and the occupier regime of Ghods in particular. History bears witness that the relations between the Bahai leaders with Zionism has a record much longer than the life of the "Israeli regime". Ben Zvi (a Zionist activist and later the president of Israel) has confessed to his meeting (along with his wife) with Abbas Afandi in the Behji Palace (in Akka) and put the date of the meeting between 1909-1910, some forty years before the establishment of Israel (1948) which shows the strategic depth of the relations between Bahai heads and Zionists. Historical evidences also show the relations between Abbas Afandi with members of the Rochild Family who were the main organizers and investors of the plot for settlement of Jews in Palestine.



So, why do Zionists support Bahai Faith to such an extent?

Did
the "selfish and merchant" Zionists sacrifice themselves for this sect just for nothing! and without any expectation? The reality is that Bahais serve Zionists and their sprout, Israel, with all their potentials in return for their supports and in addition to collecting financial aid and sending for this regime they smuggle and illegally import Israeli goods into Iran thus trying to flourish the dying economy of the regime. It is surprising that in their sites and media and against this question (or protest) concerning the relations of the sect with Israel , the Bahais impudently claim that there is no relation between the sect and the Zionists and occupiers of Palestine and the centrality of the Beitul Adl in Israel is totally accidental! and it has nothing to do with the common interests of the two parties!. Indeed when Bahaism tie its fate to that of Zionism in this way, it cannot claim that the setting up of the headquarter of this sect in Israel is simply due to the existence of the graves of the leaders of the sect in the occupied Palestine, and for this reason Israel has turned into the Qibla of Bahais.

!

ISRAELI’S PRESIDENT VISIT TO BAHAI WORLD CENTRE.


1-President Mr. Izhak Ben Zvi (1954)

The official visit of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Izhak Ben Zvi, and Mrs. Ben Zvi, to the Guardian in April, 1954 led to a most cordial relationship between them, and Shoghi Effendi later called upon the President and Mrs. Ben Zvi in Jerusalem. On December 6, 1955 the Mayor of Haifa, Aba Khoushy, visited the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, and was received by Mrs. Amelia Collins, Vice-President of the International Baha'i Council and Mr. Horace Holley, Secretary of the American National Spiritual Assembly.

(Bahai World Volume 13 Page 250)


2-HANDS OF THE CAUSE MEET WITH PRESIDENT BEN ZVI OF ISRAEL(1959)



Some of the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land during one of their official calls on the Head of the State in Jerusalem, 1959.





3-President Zalman Shazar (1964)




Israel's third President, Zalman Shazar, accepted the invitation of the Universal House of Justice in the spring of 1964 to pay a formal visit to the Shrine of the Bab and the Baha'i gardens on Mount Carmel. Included in the Presidential party on that occasion were Mrs. Shazar and Mayor and Mrs. Aba Khoushy of Haifa. Later a delegation composed of Hands of the Cause and members of the Universal House of Justice returned the visit by calling on President Shazar at Beit Hanassi in Jerusalem.

The cordial relationship which exists between the World Centre and the State of Israel was further enhanced when Mark Tobey and Bernard Leach each presented a piece of their work to the new Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The Mayor of Jerusalem, who is also Director of the Museum, expressed great pleasure and gratitude for these gifts from Baha'is of such fame.

(Bahai World Volume 14 , page 92)



4-PRESIDENT CHAIM HERZOG, (21 October 1984)



His Excellency Chaim Herzog, President of the State of Israel, paid an official visit to the Baha'i World Centre on 21 October 1984 at the invitation of the Universal House of Justice.

At 9:40 a.m. the President was formally received in Bahji, at the Collins Gate, by the nine members of the Universal House of Justice and escorted to the Mansion where Baha'u'llah spent His final years. There the President was greeted by the Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Furutan who conducted him to the room of Baha'u'llah and showed originals of some of Baha'u'llah's Tablets. Leaving the Mansion, the President paid his respects at the Sacred Tomb.

Proceeding to Haifa by official motorcade, the party alighted at the Mount Carmel gardens and visited the Shrine of the Bab. This was followed by a visit to the Seat of the Universal House of Justice which concluded with a formal luncheon in the banquet hall, in the President's honour. The visit of the first Head of State to call on the House of Justice in its permanent Seat was the occasion for the inaugural use of the splendid dining room, readied for the occasion by the dedicated efforts of dozens of skilled and devoted Baha'is serving at the World Centre.

Among those attending the historic event, in addition to the members of the Universal House of Justice and their wives, were the Hand of the Cause 'Ali-Akbar Furutan and the Mayor of Haifa, His Worship Arye Gurel, and Mrs. Gurel. An album of colour photographs of the major Baha'i Holy Places in Israel was presented to President Herzog by Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, on behalf of the Universal House of Justice. The President responded with expressions of sympathy for the suffering Baha'is of Iran and pride in the Baha'i community and its world-famed Holy Places.

The beauty of the Baha'i Holy Places, the splendour of the Faith's administrative centre, and the warmth of the welcome extended were the subjects of enthusiastic comment on the part of the President, his aide-de-camp and the Mayor of Haifa.

(Bahai World Volume 19 page 26)



5-Two members of the House meets Mr. Chaim Herzog, President of Israel (1986)

During the month that followed most of the governments of the world, including those responsible for the administration of significant territories and islands, had received the Statement. The presence in the Haifa/'Akka area of the World Centre of the Faith made it possible for two members of the Universal House of Justice to join officers of the Baha'i Inter¬national Community in calling on Mr. Chaim Herzog, President of Israel for the presentation that took place on 4 December. By Ridvan 1986 a total of 138 such presentations had occurred. Of these, 62 had been made in meetings between Baha'i delegations and the responsible Head of State, 42 through meetings with representatives of a Head of State, and 21 through the United Nations missions of the countries concerned through the intermediary of the Baha'i International Community. Through force of circumstance 13 were dispatched by mail.

(Bahai World Volume 19, page 377)



6-The Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin



The Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, visited the Baha'i World Centre briefly on 13 June to view models of the Terraces Project underway on Mount Carmel (see also p. 72). He was escorted during his visit by project manager and architect Fariborz Sahba and the Deputy Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community, Albert Lincoln.

(Bahai World 1994-1995)



7-Shimon Peres, Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs (1994)



Shimon Peres, Israel's Minister of Foreign Af¬fairs, made an official visit to the World Centre on 4 August 1994. Following an audio-visual presenta¬tion on the status of theUniversal House of Justice and invited to a lunch on in his honor in the banquet hall of the Seat. The party was joined by the Mayor of Haifa, Amram Mitzna. Mr. Peres ended his visit by viewing the Terrace Projects in progress and paying his respects at the Shrine of the Bab.

Among the other government officials who visited the Baha'i World Centre during 1994-95 were Israel's Minister of Education and Culture, Professor Amnon Rubinstein, in May 1994.


ESTABLISHMENT OF A BAHA'I COURT IN ISRAEL

Following the passing of the beloved Guardian, the Hands of the Cause Residing in the Holy Land made a further study of the possibility of establishing a Baha'i Court in Israel, and in November, 1959 announced:



"We wish to assure the believers that every effort will be made to establish a Baha'i Court in the Holy Land prior to the date set for this election. We should however bear in mind that the Guardian himself clearly indicated this goal, due to the strong trend towards the secularization of religious courts in this part of the world, might not be achieved."

The International Baha'i Council made a further study of the possibility of establishing a Baha'i Court in the Holy Land. It was found that circumstances existing in the State of Israel made it impossible to attain this goal of the Crusade in the manner stipulated by Shoghi Effendi. The Hands of the Cause Residing in the Holy Land confirmed this -finding.

(BAHAI WORLD Volume 13 Page 251)

EXTENSION OF INTERNATIONAL BAHA'I ENDOWMENTS

One of the most enduring works of the Guardian was the preparation of a secure foundation for the support of the World Spiritual and Administrative Centre of the Faith in the Holy Land. The acquisition of properties situated in the heart of Mt. Carmel and in the plain of Akka was essential to this purpose and was vigorously pressed by Shoghi Effendi throughout his ministry.

The decade of the fifties saw a marked acceleration of this process and notable victories were won. Foremost was the cleansing of the area immediately surrounding the Shrine of Baha'u'llah from Covenant-breakers and the acquisition of their properties, which were expropriated by the Government of Israel and transferred to the Faith. The purchase of land for the future Mashriqu'l-Adhkar on Mt. Carmel was another milestone at the World Centre, as was the addition of the plot on Mt. Carmel, formerly owned by the sister of a "notorious enemy" of 'Abdu'l-Baha, which opened the way to the building of the International Baha'i Archives. Other significant purchases provided the land needed for the development on Mt. Carmel of extensive new gardens containing the "arc", about which, in future, the various buildings of the World Administrative Centre will be built. Another important step was the pur¬chase of five houses at the foot of Mt. Carmel, part of the German colony settled before 1870 by the Templars, in anticipation of the coming of the Lord of Hosts. The precincts of Baha'¬u'llah's Shrine were protected by further additions of land, and a house near Bahjf which had been used by 'Abdu'1-Baha was acquired.

In April, 1954 the Guardian announced that "the vast area of Baha'i holdings per¬manently dedicated to the Shrines of the Founder of the Faith and of its Herald" exceeded three-hundred-and-fifty thousand square metres. Within two years these endow¬ments had been increased to over four-hundred-thousand square metres, and they were further extended before 1959. In 1954 their value had been about four million dollars. In his last message, October, 1957, Shoghi Effendi estimated the value of these International Baha'f endowments as over five-and-a-half million dollars.

(BAHAI WORLD VOL 13 , PAGE 253)


BAHA'I INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES

One of the foremost objectives of the World Crusade, Shoghi Effendi announced in 1954, was the erection on Mt. Carmel of the Baha'I International Archives, designed to serve as "the permanent and befitting repository for the priceless and numerous relics associated with the Twin Founders of the Faith, with the Perfect Exemplar of its teachings and with its heroes, saints and martyrs..."

The story of its design and construction is detailed in another article in this volume.2 Suffice it to say here that by April, 1957 a beautiful edifice of classical Greek style, costing over a quarter-of-a-million dollars, stood completed on Mt. Carmel. In the last year of his life Shoghi Effendi chose and purchased the entrance gate and many furnishings, including the exquisitely carved and inlaid Japanese and Chinese cabinets in which the sacred relics were placed with loving care by Amatu'1-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum.

(BAHAI WORLD VOL 13 , PAGE 253)


ISRAEL BRANCHES

The Palestine Branches of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the United States and Canada and of India, Pakistan and Burma had been organized as religious societies in 1930 and 1934 respectively and were legally empowered to hold unrestricted title to movable and immovable property in the Holy Land, a status which was continued with the founding of the State of Israel. The beloved Guardian set as a goal of the Ten-Year Plan the establishment of seven additional Israel Branches of National Spiritual Assemblies, and in his Ridvan Message in 1954 he was able to announce the formation of those of the National Assemblies of the British Isles, Persia, Canada, and Australia and New Zealand. By November, 1957 separate Branches were established for the National Assemblies of New Zealand, Alaska and Pakistan, bringing the total number of Israel Branches to eleven.

After the passing of Shoghi Effendi the Government of the State of Israel recognized the status of the Custodians elected by the Hands of the Cause and took legal cognizance of the Custodians as new managers for the several Israel or Palestine Branches of Nation¬al Spiritual Assemblies.

As circumstances permitted, properties were registered in the names of the various Israel Branches. These included the Shrine of Baha'u'llah, the Mansion of Bahjf, the properties in the Haram-i-Aqdas which were evacuated by the Covenant-breakers, and many properties on Mt. Carmel.
(BAHAI WORLD VOL 13 , PAGE 253)


RELATIONS WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL

The State of Israel has invariably accorded a high status to the international institutions of the Faith, and "this process of recognition" has constituted "an historic landmark in the evolution of the World Centre..." One of the .first responsibilities of the International Council was to foster this relationship. "Contacts are maintained with Departments of Government as well as the City Authorities in Haifa, 'Akka, and many Cabinet officials." (Report of International Council, May 2, 1955.)

The official visit of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Izhak Ben Zvi, and Mrs. Ben Zvi, to the Guardian in April, 1954 led to a most cordial relationship between them, and Shoghi Effendi later called upon the President and Mrs. Ben Zvi in Jerusalem. On December 6, 1955 the Mayor of Haifa, Aba Khoushy, visited the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, and was received by Mrs. Amelia Collins, Vice-President of the International Baha'i Council and Mr. Horace Holley, Secretary of the American National Spiritual Assembly.

The establishment of a Baha'i Department under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the official acceptance of Baha'i marriage and the excusing of Baha'i children from school attendance on Baha'i Holy Days, the exemption of Baha'i properties from taxation and customs duties are all evidences of the official recognition accorded by the State of Israel to the World Centre of the Baha'i Faith. The passing of the Guardian gave indubitable proof of the stature which the Cause of Baha'u'llah had attained in Israel. "A great wave of sincere, shocked and deep-felt sympathy poured out to the Baha'i Com¬munity from the officials of the State of Israel and its peoples," wrote the Hands in Haifa in their Convention message, 1958; "from the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet members down to the simplest citizens, tributes and condolences poured in; at every point the Government of this State has responded..

Shortly after the body of the nine Hands in the Holy Land began to function under the provisions of the above resolution, action was taken by the entire body of the Hands to designate Abu'l-Qasim Faizi as a Hand residing in the Holy Land to replace Dr. Adelbert Miihlschlegel, as it was not possible for Dr. Muhlschlegel to serve in the Holy Land.

The membership of this body of nine Hands included the four Hands appointed by Shoghi Effendi to serve in the Holy Land, that is, Ruhiyyih Khanum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins and Leroy Ioas, all members of the International Baha'i Council, and five other Hands from both East and West, each widely experienced in the teaching and administration of the Faith in their respective continents. Mr. Balyuzi was the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles, Mr. Faizi had served in the same capacity on the Regional Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula, and Mr. Haney was the Chairman of the National Assembly of the United States. Mr. Furutan had been the Secretary of the National Assembly of Iran for many years, and Mr. Khazeh had served as a member of that body.

In. other documents the Hands of the Cause set forth the basic principles governing the relationship between the body of the Hands and the nine Hands residing in the Holy Land — who for legal purposes were designated as Custodians of the Faith — and delineated the functions to be discharged by their co-workers in the Holy Land. The most important of the decisions re¬corded in these documents are summarized below:

1. The functions of the body of the nine Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land were denned to include the following tasks: To correspond with the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i world on matters relating to the prosecution of the Guardian's Ten Year Plan; to assist the National Assemblies in the solution of administrative problems; to act for the protection of the Faith whenever its teachings, institutions or properties were assailed by enemies from within the Baha'i community or outside its ranks; to administer all the properties, assets and accounts belonging to the Baha'i world community (other than those belonging to the various National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies, or to l&cal Baha'i bodies); to maintain correspondence with the Hands stationed in the several con¬tinents on all matters related to their task of propagating the Faith and defending it from attacks, and in this way co¬ordinating and encouraging the efforts of the Continental Hands. In addition to these functions, the authority to expel from the Faith violators of the Covenant was vested in the body of nine Hands, acting on reports and recommendations submitted by the Hands of the respective continents. It was also specified that in all dealings with the Israel Government and any local authorities in Israel, the Custodians should act through the International Baha'i Council.

2. It was decided that the entire body of the Hands of the Cause would meet periodically in the Holy Land, and that the body of the Hands would have full authority to change the membership of the Hands in the Holy Land, and to make any alterations in the functions and powers of the Custodians as the Hands might decide.

(BAHAI WORLD Volume 13 Page 346)

Page 347

Following the historic Proclamation of November 25th, 1957, the Hands in the Holy Land shared with the various National Assemblies copies of the documents relating to the establishment of the nine Hands residing in the Holy Land who were to act as Custodians of the Faith until the es¬tablishment of the Universal House of Justice. After reviewing these documents, all the National and Regional Assemblies of the Baha'i world officially recognized the nine Hands in the Holy Land and pledged their full support and allegiance.

The authority in these various documents enabled the Hands in the Holy Land to take prompt steps to safeguard the properties of the Faith, particularly the extensive and valuable international endowments at the World Center, the value of which was estimated by Shoghi Effendi in his last message at over five-and-a-half million dollars. Recognition of the authority of the Custodians by the officials concerned to administer the bank accounts held in the name of the Guardian, comprising the international reserve funds of the Cause, was a great victory.

It was these far-reaching decisions and actions which made it possible to continue the co-ordination and direction from the Holy Land — the world spiritual and administrative center of the Cause — of the international activities of the Faith, and for the vital tasks of the Guardian's Ten Year Plan to be prosecuted vigorously by a unified Baha'i world community.

It thus became evident that the Guardian had, during the thirty-six years of his ministry, reared a world community with an ad¬ministrative structure and institutions which enabled it to withstand the shock of his passing and to bring his World Crusade to a victorious and triumphant conclusion in Ridvan, 1963, making possible at that time the establishment of the Universal House of Justice.


Israel Postal Authority issued A stamp featuring the Seat of the Universal House of Justice



A stamp featuring the Seat of the Universal House of Justice was issued by the Philatelic Service of the Israel Postal Authority on 16 February as part of an ongoing series of stamps in honor of the reli¬gions represented in the Holy Land. The design for the stamp was cho¬sen in a national contest.

A Baha'i stamp and accompanying first day cover were issued by the Israel Postal Authority as part of a series of stamps in honor of the religions represented in the Holy Land.

In April 1985, the House of Justice created an international agency to coordinate relations with the media and other information sources, the Office of Public Informa¬tion, with its headquarters in HaifaNew York. and a branch office in

(BAHAI WORLD 1992-1993)


The establishment of the first academic Chair for Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel

The establishment of the first academic Chair for Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem—with the mission of promoting understanding of this new Faith and studying its history, its teachings, and its role in the modern world—represents a significant step in the institutionalized study of the Baha'i Faith.

In the words of Professor Menachem Magidor, president of the Hebrew University, the establishment of the Chair signifies "interfaith, intercultural, and interethnic discourse between people of different convictions and different beliefs." And as he remarked at the dedication of the Chair, "While we are definitely a Jewish university, we should be an intellectual bridge between Jewish culture and other religions."

Following the event at the Hebrew University, a second event commemorating the foundation of the Chair was held on 25 June 1999 at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa. This gathering focused on the evolution of Baha'i scholarship and the unique nature of the relationship between the Hebrew University and the World Centre, particularly the Centre for the Study of the Texts. The cooperation between these two institutions will allow the university access to historical documents crucial to the development of Baha'i studies.

Albert Lincoln once again spoke on behalf of the Baha'i Community and during his speech read the text of a letter from former president of Israel Itzhak Navon to the President of the Hebrew University, congratulating him on the formation of the Chair. Mr. Lincoln also elucidated the commitment of the Baha'i World Centre to working with the university in pursuit of its scholarly goals.

A large delegation from the Hebrew University attended, including the president, vice-president, and rector of the university. It marked the first time that the university senate had ever convened outside Jerusalem.

Menachem Ben-Sasson, the university's rector, spoke about the longstanding relationship between the Baha'i Faith and the Hebrew University, which dates back to the founding of the school in April 1925, when Shoghi Effendi wrote in a cable, ".. .BAHA'IS HOPE AND PRAY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS SEAT OF LEARNING MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE REVIVAL OF A LAND OF HALLOWED MEMORIES FOR US ALL AND FOR WHICH ABDU'L-BAHA CHERISHED THE HIGHEST HOPES."

(Bahai World Volume 1999-2000, Page 377)