Monday, September 15, 2008

The problems of the Citizen of the State of Israel


1-However, in keeping with a policy that has been strictly followed since the days of Bahá'u'lláh, We Bahá'ís do not teach the Faith in Israel. Likewise, the Faith is not taught to Israelis abroad if they intend to return to Israel. When Israelis ask about the Faith, their questions are answered, but this is done in a manner which provides factual information without stimulating further interest."
(Ref: The Universal House of Justice, 1995 Jul 23, Teaching Israelis)

2-"Whenever an Israeli citizen living in the West, irrespective of his background and religious affiliation, declares his belief and interest in becoming a member of the Bahá'í community, he is informed that the Faith is not taught in Israel and that there is no Bahá'í community there apart from those who are associated with the Bahá'í World Center. He cannot be accepted into the Bahá'í community if he is planning to return to Israel to reside there.

3-"If he plans to continue to reside outside Israel, his enrollment can be accepted, but he will then be subject to the same restrictions about travel to Israel as any other Bahá'í, in that he could do so only with the express permission of the Universal House of Justice. In any event, the Universal House of Justice should be informed of any such declaration.
(Ref: Letter from the Universal House of Justice, dated October 20, 1994, to several National Spiritual Assemblies.")

(Compilations, NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities)

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