A Tablet of Abdu’l-Baha to Baha’is of Jewish background

Author, Baha’i historian and artist, Ms. Mahmehr Vahdat Golestaneh ماهمهر وحدت گلستانه is an Iranian Baha’i of Jewish descent from both maternal and paternal sides.

In 1901 Abdu’l-Baha wrote a tablet to our paternal ancestor, Haji Yusuf Vahdat upon his release from imprisonment simply because of his newly professed Faith. This tablet is very unique, as Abdu’l-Baha in rhythmic language mentions Progressive Revelation and names almost all of the Israelite prophets and patriarchs in one paragraph.

This tablet has just been provisionally translated by scholar and translator Adib Masumian. - Hoda Hosseini

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By Adib Masumian

What follows is my provisional translation (in other words, not official or authorized; see here for more) of a Tablet of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. This facsimile of the original text, which is unpublished, was kindly supplied to me by Hoda Hosseini, the great-granddaughter of Ḥájí Yúsuf Vaḥdat (Áqá Mírzá Yúsuf ʻAláqihband), one of the recipients of this Tablet. Ḥájí Yúsuf was the paternal grandfather of the renowned artist, Mahmehr Vahdat Golestaneh, and had the distinction of being the first Baháʼí in their family. He was taught the Baháʼí Faith in Káshán by Ḥakím Faraju’lláh, who himself learned of it through Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl. The Tablet below was written in 1901 following the imprisonment of Ḥájí Yúsuf for his belief in the Baháʼí Faith.

Ḥájí Yúsuf Vaḥdat (Áqá Mírzá Yúsuf ʻAláqihband), one of the recipients of this Tablet

Delivered via the pilgrim Khájih Rabíʻ, upon him be the Glory of God

To Áqá Shamúʼíl, the son of Áqá Rabíʻ, and Áqá Mírzá Yúsuf ʻAláqihband, upon them both be the Glory of the All-Glorious

He is God

O dear friends of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá! Since on the path of Bahá ye have tasted the poison of oppression and been made the target of the dart of calamity, suffered the greatest blows and endured the direst afflictions, praised be God that in the fire of tests your faces are glowing with joy, and ye have burned the veil of men’s vain imaginings. Convey my utmost respect to the Baháʼís of Jewish extraction, who are the progeny of Abraham, and kiss them on their heads, for they have hearkened to the counsels of the Friend of God[1] with the ear of their souls and carried them out with wholehearted endeavor. They have cheered the hearts of all the prophets of Israel, and endeared the children of Jacob among the Concourse on High.

In this day, Abraham is the Merciful Father, and He rejoiceth with exceeding gladness and delight. From the Most Glorious Kingdom, Isaac giveth glad-tidings unto all the world, and Israel[2] beholdeth his descendants in great glory. Joseph regardeth the lineage of Jacob as having been favored with guidance and bounty, and Moses reckoneth that people as the embodiment of abounding grace. Aaron deemeth Israel to be the symbol of the favors of the Peerless One, and Solomon accounteth his kindred as blessed in both worlds. David seeth the Jews as the emblems of the bestowals of the loving Lord, and Isaiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Ezra voice their praise and congratulations to all of Israel.

These are the bounties which the glorious Lord hath accorded to Israel. Render ye thanks, therefore, and laud the One True God for having granted such a gift as this and freely conferred so immense a bestowal.

Upon you be the Glory of the All-Glorious.

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[1] Khalíl, a title of Abraham.

[2] A title of Jacob.

A typescript of the original Persian text of this Tablet, based on the above facsimile, appears below (all punctuation and vowel marks mine).

به واسطۀ جنابِ زائر خواجه ربیع، علیه بهاءالله

جناب آقا شموئیل وَلَدِ آقا ربیع و جنابِ آقا میرزا یوسف علاقه‌بند، علیهما بهاءالله الابهی

هوالله

ای یارانِ عزیزِ عبدالبهاء، زیرا در سبیلِ بهاء زهرِ جفا چشیدید و هدفِ تیرِ بَلا شُدید، صدماتِ عظمی دیدید و بلیّاتِ کبری تحمّل نمودید، الحمدلله در آتشِ امتحان رخ برافروختید و پردۀ اوهامِ خَلق بسوختید. احبّایِ کلیمی سلالۀ حضرتِ ابراهیم را از قِبَلِ من نهایتِ حرمت و تکریم مجری دارید و روی و موی ببوسید، زیرا وصایایِ حضرتِ خلیل را به گوشِ جان شنیدند و به دل و به ارکان مجری داشتند. قلوبِ جمیعِ انبیایِ اسرائیل را شادمان نمودند و اولادِ یعقوب را در ملأِ اعلی محبوب کردند.

الیوم حضرتِ ابراهیم اَبِ رحیمند و در فرح و سُرورِ عظیم. حضرتِ اسحق از ملکوتِ ابهی مژده به آفاق دهد، و حضرتِ اسرائیل سلالۀ خویش را جلیل بیند، و حضرتِ یوسف نژادِ یعقوب را به هدایت و موهبت موصوف داند، و حضرتِ موسایِ کلیم آن قوم را مظهرِ فضلِ عظیم شمرد، و حضرتِ هارون اسرائیل را مظاهر الطافِ حضرتِ بی‌چون داند، و حضرتِ سلیمان قومِ خویش را در دو جهان کامران شمرد، و حضرتِ داود یهود را را مظاهرِ الطاف ربّ وَدود بیند، و حضرت اشیعا و اِیلیا و اِرمیا و حزقیال و عزرا جمیعِ اسرائیل را آفرین گویند و تحسین نمایند.

این الطافِ ربِّ جلیل است که در حقِّ اسرائیل گشته. پس به شکرانه پردازید و خداوندِ یگانه را بستائید که چنین عنایتی مبذول داشت و چنین موهبتی شایگان رایگان نمود. و علیکم البهاء الابهی. ع ع

Prominent Baha'is of Jewish background

 

Hamid Pezeshkian is a Baha'i of Jewish heritage

Hoda Hosseini is a Baha'i of Jewish heritage

https://bahaiteachings.org/assimilation-isolation-cultural-responses-americas-racism/

A Tablet of Abdu’l-Baha to Jinab-i-Ilyahu of Kashan and his sons

By Adib Masumian

What follows is my provisional translation (in other words, not official or authorized; see here for more) of a Tablet of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. This facsimile of the original text, which is unpublished—along with the photographs below—were kindly supplied to me by Hoda Hosseini, the great-great-granddaughter of Jináb-i-Ilyáhú, the recipient of this Tablet. Jináb-i-Ilyáhú was the maternal great-grandfather of the renowned artist, Mahmehr Vahdat Golestaneh.

During the Persian famine of 1917–1919, Jináb-i-Ilyáhú and his sons, Ḥáj Shaʻbán and Ḥáj Dávúd, would host gatherings (“firesides”) at one of their properties, known as the Ṣáḥib-Díván, which was located in central Ṭihrán in the historic ʻÚdláján neighborhood. A large white flag bearing the Greatest Name (Yá Baháʼu’l-Abhá / یا بهاء الأبهی) was hoisted on the roof of this building. Baháʼís were invited to speak about the Faith and ample quantities of food were given to all who entered.

During a visit to ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, Ḥájí Abu’l-Ḥasan Amín—the famed Trustee of the Ḥuqúq, who had been present at these gatherings—shared his experience with Him, and He wrote the Tablet below as a result.

A historical detail that Hoda feels ought to be preserved: This family, the Iqrárís (Eghraris), like many other Jews, came from humble beginnings. At the turn of the century in Qájár Persia, they were not just second-class citizens, but oppressed minorities forced to live in segregated areas. It was only the early Baháʼís who would visit them to tell them about their Faith—and once they embraced it, their fortunes took a turn for the better. The wealth they accrued after they became Baháʼís enabled them to purchase the Ṣáḥib-Díván, which once belonged to the son-in-law of the sháh; hoist the banner bearing the Greatest Name; and do everything within their means and power to promote the religion. The tradition that started with Jináb-i-Ilyáhú and his sons, and was immortally hailed by ʻAbdu’l-Bahá in the Tablet below, continues to this day, and the family attributes their success, prosperity, and desire to hold firesides to the conversion and endeavors of their distinguished ancestors.

Jináb-i-Ilyáhú (center) and his sons, Ḥáj Shaʻbán (left) and Ḥáj Dávúd (right)

Standing, back row, from right to left: Ḥáj Dávúd Iqrárí; Maryam Khánum Iqrárí, wife of Ḥáj Dávúd; Khánum-Báshí Abríshamí, daughter of Jináb-i-Ilyáhú and sister of Ḥáj Dávúd; Labíbih, her child; Bahíyyih Iqrárí, wife of Ḥáj Shaʻbán Iqrárí; Nayyirih Mustaqím, her child; Ḥáj Shaʻbán.

Seated, middle, from right to left: Ukhuvvat Iqrárí, wife of Jináb-i-Ilyáhú; Javáhir Khánum Qáṭán, daughter of Jináb-i-Ilyáhú; Rúḥíyyih Iqrárí, daughter of Ḥáj Dávúd and grandmother of Mahmehr Golestaneh; Rawḥáníyyih Iqrárí, mother of Shídrukh Baqáʼ, the first Baháʼí woman of Jewish background to be martyred for her Faith (in 1982); Ṭáhirih Iqrárí, mother of Parívash Birjís and daughter of Ḥáj Shaʻbán; Jináb-i-Ilyáhú.

Seated, front row, from right to left: Munírih Sháyání Iqrárí, daughter of Ḥáj Shaʻbán; Báhirih Iqrárí Rayḥání, daughter of Ḥáj Shaʻbán.

Standing on either side are two apprentices who were employed at the tijárat-khániy-i-Iqrárí, a group of shops owned by the Iqrárí family. Both eventually became Baháʼís. One of them (it is not known which one) was named Taʼíd, and he later became the father of a certain martyr. The identity of the other apprentice is unknown.

According to Mahmehr Golestaneh, this picture was probably taken in 1921.

Delivered via Jináb-i-Amín[1]

To Jináb-i-Ilyáhú of Káf[2] and his respected sons[3]

He is God

O thou who art firm in the Covenant! The banquet-spread which thou didst lay out, and the wholesome feast of plenty thou didst prepare, was truly a celestial festivity and a heavenly repast. Although ʻAbdu’l-Bahá was distant in body, yet in heart and soul he was present at that gathering. Such occasions as these proceed from the loftiness of one’s nature and the exaltedness of one’s being; they enkindle and lend warmth to the hearts. Through them, friends become helpers, and companions take one another in their embrace like unto a cluster of stars; they give rise to conscientious sentiments, and cause love, fellowship, and unity to appear.

Upon you be the Glory of the All-Glorious.

—ʻAbdu’l-Bahá ʻAbbás

19 May 1919

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[1] Ḥájí Amín.

[2] Káshán.

[3] Ḥáj Shaʻbán and Ḥáj Dávúd.

A typescript of the original Persian text of this Tablet, based on the above facsimile, appears below (all punctuation and vowel marks mine).

به واسطۀ جنابِ امین

جنابِ الیاهو از اهلِ کاف و پسرانِ محترم

هوالله

ای ثابتْ بر عهد، سفرۀ ضیافتی که گستردی و خوانِ نعمتِ مُهنّائی که مهیّا نمودی فی الحقیقه ضیافتی ربّانی بود و میهمانی آسمانی. عبدالبهاء هرچند به تن دور بود، ولی به دل و جان حاضر و محشور. این قِسْم میهمانی‌ها از عُلْویّتِ فطرت و سُمُوِّ طینت صدور یابد، و سببِ شعله و حرارتِ قلوب گردد. یارانْ یاوران گردند و دوستانْ مانند نجومِ پروین دست در آغوشِ یکدیگر شوند. احساساتِ وجدانی منبعث گردد و مَحبّت و الفت و یگانگی جلوه نماید. و علیکم البهاء الابهی.

عبدالبهاء عبّاس

۱۸ شعبان ۱۳۳۷

'Abdu'l Baha's tablet to a Jewish Baha'i in his own handwriting

 

For more details, please check: www.adibmasumian.com/translations/tablet-abdul-baha-jinab-i-ilyahu-and-sons/

Iranian Entrepreneur and Industrialist Habib Sabet Pasal was a Baha'i of Jewish heritage

Habib with his wife Bahareh

SABET, HABIB (b. Tehran, 1903; d., Los Angeles, 1 Esfand, 1368/20 February 1990), Baha'i entrepreneur and industrialist, who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Iran in the late Pahlavi period. He owned, wholly or in partnership, some forty of the largest companies in Iran, in which more than ten thousand people were employed (for the companies founded by him, see Sabet, pp. 284-85). He also played a major role in introducing the accouterments of modernity to Iran. 

Both his maternal and paternal families were of Jewish heritage who were converted to the Baha'i faith. They were of the city of Kashan but had lived in Tehran for several generations, where Ḥabib’s father, ʿAbd-Allāh Sabet, was born. He was an uneducated but astute and hard-working cloth-merchant. His mother, Kešvar Arjomand, was from a family of prominent physicians. Although the family had modest means, his father scraped enough together to send Ḥabib and his sister to the Baha'i Tarbiat School. From the age of 13, Ḥabib attended the St Louis School (see FRANCE xv) in Tehran, tutoring his fellow-pupil, Ḡolām-Ḥosayn, the son of Moḥammad Moṣaddeq (the future prime minister), to help pay for his own education (Sabet, pp. 1, 28-31). 

Read more about him at encyclopedia Iranica

https://iranicaonline.org/articles/sabet-habib

Negar Mottahedeh is a Baha'i of Jewish heritage

Negar Mottahedeh is a cultural critic and film theorist specializing in interdisciplinary and feminist contributions to the fields of Middle Eastern Studies and Film Studies.

She has written articles for Observer, covering the effects of President Trump's travel ban, and the persecution of the Jews and the Baháʼí (2017).

Remembering Barbara Barrett who was a Baha'i of Jewish heritage.

Barbara Jewkes Barrett, 90, died peacefully at Parkside Manor care home in Columbia, Missouri on July 14, 2017 and was buried on August 1, 2017 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri, with family members in attendance. Barbara was born on March 30, 1927 in Los Angeles, California to Jesse Delos Jewkes and Belle Gardner Jewkes. She graduated with a B.S. in Political Science from UCLA in June 1949 and married Donald Morgan Barrett of Oakland California in December 1949. Barbara and her husband of 52 years were devout members of the Baha’i Faith. Together, they shared their faith by both words and deeds in four countries in Latin America, and in later life, at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel where they lived and worked for 9 years. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, two brothers, and two sisters. She is survived by her two children, and three grandchildren. Barbara truly was an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her rare combination of intelligence, kindness and warmth will be greatly missed.

Jewish convert laid down his life for the cause of Baha'u'llah.

In Kirmánsháh, the martyr Mírzá Yá‘qub-i-Muttaḥidih, the ardent twenty-five year old Jewish convert to the Faith, was the last to lay down his life during ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá’s ministry; and his mother, according to his own instructions, celebrated his martyrdom in Hamadán with exemplary fortitude. In every instance the conduct of the believers testified to the indomitable spirit and unyielding tenacity that continued to distinguish the lives and services of the Persian followers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/shoghi-effendi/god-passes-by/22#572746759

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the “Network of Baha'is of Jewish Background”?

This is a network of Baha'is of Jewish heritage trying to create a peaceful atmosphere of teaching the Baha'i Faith in the Holy Land. For decades now, Jews within the state of Israel have had their rights abused, while most Baha'is remaining silent to this day, and through this initiative we aim to change that.

Who is behind to support you in this initiative?

Every right-minded Baha'i is our supporter and Baha'i Teachings are our best supporter.

Baha'is believe that “Ye are all fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch, the flowers of one garden.” Therefore we do not approve the ban of not teaching the Baha'i Faith to the Israeli citizens. In the beginning we had many prominent Baha'is coming from the Jewish background but now we do not see this trend anymore. The reason being the wrong decision of the Administrative Order prohibiting any teaching activity in the State of Israel.

When asked, the administration claims that “it was Baha'u'llah who imposed the ban”! This is not true because Baha'u'llah ascended to the Abha Kingdom in 1892 and the State of Israel came into existence in 1948. How this is possible? We, therefore, took it upon ourselves, this most important responsibility of teaching the Faith to our Jewish brethren in Israel.

Why did you set up this network?

Religious freedom is not a privilege, it’s an inalienable right of all members of the human family. We choose to fight for it by addressing the often ignored and under-represented issue of Baha'i religious freedom in the State of Israel.

You are most concerned about the Jews of Israel?

The writings of Baha'u'llah are based on equality of all the men and women hence the people of Israel are not any exception. They should not be discriminated, based on nationality, they should get the privilege of knowing the Baha'i Teachings, the 12 Principles the Faith. The 4 Core Activities should start in Israel, specially, the Ruhi Curriculum founded by our former House of Justice member, Mr. Farzam Arbab.

Owing to the support and respect which the Israeli government offers to the Baha'is worldwide, the Baha'is are exempted from the security checks at the Airport. They are respected a lot by the Israeli authorities. It is a well-known fact that every President of Israel has visited the world centre. They offer every help and go out of the way to help the Baha'i administration. Then why the Baha'is should discriminate the people of Israel?

The Baha'i World Centre and Israeli Government have a number of agreements of co-operation and co-ordination resulting in the expansion of the Baha'i Faith.

The Baha'i Faith inspires us to fight for individual freedom regardless of any religion, race or country. We believe in tolerance, respect, unity, and understanding. We are bound to respect our Government and we cannot disobey them.

Are there any Baha’is writing with you?

This blog is set up by an independent Baha'i youth who believes that the Divine Teachings cannot be the monopoly of a few. We are above Nationalities. We have free and fair elections for our Institutions. Out of the 9 members of the Universal House of Justice four are Persians, although Baha'is are persecuted in Iran. This shows that every Baha'i is treated as equal, then why the People of Israel should be excluded?

Do you think this will work?

This is just the beginning. Our dreams go way beyond this blog. We took this first step and hope to take 10 more steps each day until our simple demands are met. More and more people are appreciating our efforts as they come to know about the injustice being done to the people of Israel. Some members of the House support us in this endeavor. We have their backing. The day is not far when we will be witnessing full-scale teaching projects in Israel. We will have the LSAs in each and every locality and the Baha'is of Israel will be proudly able to elect their own NSA. International Baha'i Convention will also be attended by the Israeli Baha'i delegates. The NSA of the Baha'is of Israel will also be given the targets by the ITC. We already have the counselors, the ABMs etc. to help with the plans. We already have establish funds and Huquq'ullah committees, where the Baha'is are giving generous contributions.

Video : Interview with Christopher Schwartz (Journalist)