Justin Baldoni is proud of his Jewish ancestry.

Justin Baldoni and Emily Baldoni

Jane the Virgin star Justin Baldoni has an out-of-the-ordinary interfaith background. “My mom was Jewish and became a Baha’i before she met my dad, and when they fell in love he became a Baha’i. When I was in my teenage years I became a Baha’i,” he relates. “But we celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas, as an ode to our grandparents. Baha’is have some amazing holidays and we did those too. It was a wonderful thing to grow up in an interfaith family.”

Baldoni explains that “In the Baha’i faith we believe that all religions are one so it’s important for me to know about everything—Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Mohammed. It’s a beautiful thing. Baha’is believe that we are known by our deeds—it’s not about what we say, it’s about what we do. So it’s all about our service to humanity.”

Now married to a Swedish woman, also Baha’i, he doesn’t celebrate Jewish holidays now but is proud of his Jewish ancestry. “My grandfather was in WWII and a lot of my family was killed in the Holocaust,” he notes. “One of my aunts was a survivor.”

Baldoni (Charmed, Everwood), who plays a rich hotel owner and inadvertent father of the mistakenly inseminated young woman of the title in Jane the Virgin, calls the new CW show “Kind of my comeback to acting. I took a break to start my production company, Wayfarer Entertainment. We create socially conscious, inspirational content. The project that we’re most known for is a series called My Last Days. I took two years and spent time with people that were dying from terminal illnesses. We wanted to tell their stories in a way to inspire others to live. It’s a show about living told by people who are dying. It’s the most-watched documentary series in the history of YouTube. Thirty million views.”

His next projects include TV and feature documentaries. “We’re developing reality content that we think is going to make a difference and inspire people to be the best version of themselves,” he says. “We’re all about being of service to each other. We have to use what we have to do good.”

http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/Hollywood_Now_New_Movies_The_Judge_Whiplash_Fury_Jane_the_Virgins_Justin_Baldoni.shtml

Kitab-i-Aqdas in Hebrew for Jewish friends

ALTHOUGH THE Baha’i World Center is located in Haifa, where its breathtaking terraced gardens are a must-see tourist attraction, Naw-Ruz, the Baha’i New Year, is traditionally celebrated in Jerusalem after first being celebrated in Haifa and Acre.

The Jerusalem reception, explained Baha’i International Community secretary-general Joshua Lincoln, is to show appreciation to the people and institutions Baha’i works with in many areas of endeavor. These include inter alia the Justice, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Religious Services and Tourism ministries; the leaders of the religious communities; the diplomatic corps; the legislature; and academia.

The golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, atop Haifa’s Mount Carmel, is the resting place of the prophet-herald of the Baha’í faith and a place of pilgrimage for the 6 million strong members of the global Baha’i community.

Work has begun on a future service facility for Baha’i pilgrims, said Lincoln, who also noted that the number of visitors to the Baha’i gardens over the past year was in the range of 870,000.

Lincoln also paid tribute to Kern and Barbara Wisman, Baha’i’s Jerusalem representatives, who organize the reception there.

Reception guest of honor was Prof. Moshe Sharon, who was Arab affairs adviser to prime minister Menachem Begin and also participated in the peace negotiations with Egypt; he now holds the chair in Baha’i studies at the Hebrew University’s faculty of the humanities.

Coincidentally, Sharon – who is also a Hebrew University alumnus – was born in Haifa. He joined the faculty of the Hebrew University in 1965 and received his PhD in Islamic history in 1971. A world-renowned specialist in Arabic epigraphy, Sharon has recorded all the Arabic inscriptions in the Holy Land. He related that 40 years ago, when he was teaching at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, one of his students came to seek his advice on a doctoral thesis on Baha’i; he told her he knew nothing about it and suggested she find another subject.

Some time later, when he was searching for Arabic inscriptions in Acre, he came across gravestones with terminology that was not familiar to him. He was intrigued and when told by an elderly man that the graves belonged to Baha’i, he found his way to the Baha’i World Center – where he asked many questions and became so enamored with the history and theology, he began writing extensively on the subject. The upshot was that in 1999, he was appointed to the chair of Baha’i studies at the Hebrew University.

In 2005 he published the first translation into Hebrew of Al-Kitab al-Aqdas, the holy book of the Babí-Baha’í faiths.

www.jpost.com

Dialogue between a JEW & a BAHA'I - June 3, 2015

Wilmette Institute runs a 12 week course on teaching Jews.

Beginning May 20, our 12 week introductory course on Judaism for Deepening and Dialogue. Think beyond the Hebrew Bible to learn more about the contemporary beliefs of your friends, neighbors and connections in interfaith activities.

More info here.

Annual reception of the global Baha’i community (2015)

Written by Sima Lahat
Published: 29 March 2015

http://www.diplomacy.co.il/diplomatic-events?start=175

On Tuesday evening, March 24, 2015, I was privileged to be invited to the annual international Baha’i community reception; an impressive festive event, held at the David Citadel in Jerusalem, to celebrate the Baha’i New Year (Nowruz).

The event was attended by government representatives, ministers and Knesset members, religious leaders in Israel, members of the diplomatic corps, the president of the Hebrew University and other academics, members of the international community who volunteer at the Haifa and Acre Baha’i centers, all of whom came to honor and salute the Baha’i community.

It was amazing to see “transplanted” parts of famous Baha’i gardens at the event’s entrance. Beds of flowers and colorful plants, laid out symmetrically and aesthetically, were admired by all the guests.

We were greeted by Dr. Joshua Lincoln, Secretary-General of the World Baha’i community, and his wife. Six volunteer musicians and singers from the US, England, Ghana and South Africa entertained the guests with delightful singing and music. Sumptuous refreshments and drinks were served. Every detail of the event was meticulous and elaborate, as in the Baha’i gardens.

Dr. Joshua Lincoln opened with the blessing of welcome in Hebrew, English and Arabic. He then read a letter from President Rivlin in which the President congratulated the Baha'i community, the guests and the people of Israel with joy, success, peace and health. Dr. Lincoln expressed the hope that the coming year will be better than the last, and invited the audience to visit the Baha’i chapel, which is open to everyone.

Professor Moshe Sharon, founder of the world's first Chair in Baha’i Studies, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, addressed the assembly:

“Dear Friends and Colleagues, Head of the Church, Members of the Diplomatic Corp, and President of the Hebrew University. Dear members of the Baha’i community in Israel.

A happy new year to all of you.

Naw Ruz-i-Mobarak from Jerusalem to the Baha’i community in the world at large, Ladies and Gentelmen.

Some 40 years ago I was approached by a student who wanted to write Ph.D. theses on the Baha’I religion. My answer was that I do not know anything about the Baha’is and advised her to look for a more interesting subject. Yet here I am standing in front of you today as the Head of the Chair in Baha’i studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, having established it 15 years ago. It was a mere coincidence which brought me to get interested in the Baha’is and without it I would not be here today.

In 1996 I was searching in the vicinity of Akko for Arabic inscriptions for my major research work on the Arabic inscriptions of the Holy Land. I came across a group of tombs with tombstones that looked rather unusual. The terminology, though Arabic and Persian, was not familiar to me and some dates were rather strange. I had never met in modern times dates like 80 or 90 or even less. I was intrigued until an old man living in the vicinity told me that the graves belonged to Baha’is. This is how my long journey into this fascinating world religion began. It led me to write the first book in Hebrew about the Baha’i faith and to prepare an annotated translation into Hebrew of the most Holy Book, the Holy writ that guides the life of millions of faithful all over the globe.

What attracts these millions from east and west from the great continents to the smallest islands of the Pacific ocean to a faith born out of the Shi’ah in Iran, whose original holy texts are mostly written in Persian and Arabic?

The answer to this question was already supplied by Edward Grenville Browne, the Cambridge scholar who was the first to recognize, more than 125 years ago, the importance and viability of this modern faith. He met Baha’ullah in his residence near Akko in 1890 and this is how he describes the meeting:

“No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I lowed myself before one who is the object of devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain!

A mild dignified voce bake me to be seated and then continued: ‘… thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile… We desire but the good of the world and happiness of the nations; yet they deem us for a stirrer of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment… That all nations should become on in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that the diversity of religion should cease and differences of race be annulled – what harm is there in this?... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away and the “Most Great Peace” shall come. ...Do not you in Europe need this also? …Yet do we see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind… These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease… Let not a man glory in this that he loves his country, let him rather glory in this that he loves his kind.’

Commenting on these words Browne concludes: “let those who read these words consider …whether such doctrines merit death and bonds and whether the world is more likely to gain or lose from their diffusion.”

We have only to look around us to realize that today as then these words are relevant and topical. Let me finish with another saying of Baha’ullah cherished by 6,000,000 people around the world “Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.” Thank you and have a very enjoyable evening”.

And something about the Baha’i religion:

It is a monotheistic religion, independent and relatively new. Its source was in Iran in 1844, created by the Báb Ali Mohamed. The source is Shiite Islam, but it is not defined as a stream within it. The Baha’i center is in Acre and Haifa. Most of the holy writings were written by the prophet Baha’u’llah, who claimed that he continues the message of the Bab. It is estimated that there are about six million faithful around the world, in a very large number of countries. The religious texts have been translated into hundreds of languages. Despite the Muslim origins, there are almost no Arabs among its adherents, and in Iran the followers are severely persecuted. Most of the success was achieved in the West and in India, due to the universal teachings.

The message of the Báb and Baha’u’llah is that there is one God revealed to mankind over the years and who reveals His will. All religions have a common divine origin, and the prophets are messengers of God, including Moses, Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Jesus, Zarathustra and the Báb. They represent successive stages in the spiritual development of mankind. The last messenger, Baha’u’llah, emphasizes global peace, scientific progress and ethical behavior.

Baha’is believe in the unity of God; unity of the human race; in the search for truth; strengthening the common elements of all religions; faith in fundamental harmony between religion and science; volunteering; equality between men and women; monogamy; denial of prejudices and superstitions; strict obedience to the laws of the local government, non-violence, not bearing arms and no warfare and a ban on the participation in the military forces of any country, except for a U.N. force; compulsory education throughout the world; the search for a solution to the problems of the global economy, the use of a common world language (in the past Esperanto, now Lojban) and striving for world peace under international government that derives some of the powers of the countries.

At the Baha’i community reception I experienced the friendly and respectful approach of the hosts in the spirit of Baha’u’llah. His Word is given to people as "food for the soul". The hosts went a step further and added "wonderful food for the body". With that winning combination, plus a real mutual respect, the brave friendship between Israel and the Baha’i Community is not surprising.

Christianity that dogged me until college’

Jack Gordon, 30, is a Bahá'í in Washington DC who is the Producer of Faith In Action DC (www.faithinactiondc.com). Here he tells us about his religious identity. 

You could say I’m the product of an interfaith relationship that didn’t work out so well. My father and his family have a conservative Jewish eastern European background and my mother is from a Christian background, and there was a cultural clash in my household growing up. On my father’s side, based on the lamentable history that the Jews had at the hands of people who professed to believe in Christ, there was a distinct view that anything associated with Christianity was corrupt and phoney.

So I grew up with a very strong Jewish identity and a resentment of Christianity that dogged me until college. At college I got involved in community organising and started to re-examine the prejudices I had against Christians and Christianity and I began to open myself up a bit more. Part of that was due to a revelation I had at a Gospel concert I attended. Not that I became a Christian; I just realised Jesus was basically a really good community organiser, and that was something I could appreciate and value.

At the same time I was aware I had on my mom’s side a handful of family members in the Baha’i faith, starting with my grandmother who joined the Baha’i community in the Sixties. As I became more open to the spiritual side of things I decided to explore the Baha’i teachings. The more I read, the more I thought, ‘This is something I believe.’ It didn’t ask me to abandon my Jewish cultural heritage or identity; in fact, being a Baha’i has affirmed my desire to learn more about Judaism. It also encouraged me to be more open to Christianity because the Baha’i faith recognises Jesus as a divine messenger, just as it does Mohammed, Baha'u'llah and so on. It’s given me a totally different worldview about spirituality.

Representing a faith community that’s relatively obscure, I feel an imperative to explain my faith to others and strive to live a good example of the Baha’i teachings. There’s an explicit mandate in the Baha’i faith to commune with followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and to increase the bonds of cooperation. That has to start with trying to make peace in my own family, before extending it to my neighbourhood and the world at large.

Baha'is mourn the death of Ariel Sharon

Israel bid its last farewell to the late Ariel Sharon on Monday with a state ceremony outside the parliament building before his flag-draped coffin was taken on a cross-country procession to its final resting place at his family home in the country's south.

With a high-powered crowd of VIPs and international dignitaries on hand, Sharon was eulogized as a fearless warrior and bold leader who devoted his life to protecting Israel's security. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair headed the long list of visitors that included the representatives from the Baha’i World Centre.

Sharon died at the age of 85 on Saturday after spending the last eight painful years in a coma caused by a massive stroke clinging to life in his final days even after his kidneys had stopped functioning.

Sharon's life will be remembered for its three distinct stages: First, was his eventful and contentious time in uniform, including leading a deadly raid in the West Bank that killed 69 Arabs, as well as his heroics in the 1973 Mideast war and as a friend and supporter of Baha’i Faith

He was branded responsible for the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps outside Beirut when his troops allowed allied Lebanese militias into the camps. After an uproar over the massacre, the supreme court of Israel found him guilty that cost him his job.

For Baha’is, Sharon was more than a well wisher, always eager to protect the Baha’i community. He visited the Baha’i World centre many times like his predecessors, during and after the Arc project, ensuring Baha’is of all possible support inside and outside Israel. I was at the gate to receive the guest from the Government at that time. Sharon entered with grace. He looked at me, shook his hand and said “How are you young lady”. I was taken back with his sudden gesture. Sharon remained with the Baha’is and had a meeting with the Members of Universal House of Justice and International Teaching Centre and assured them full support. He even inquired whether it is possible to meet Baha’i community outside Israel. Mr. Ali Nakhjawani took a world tour of the Baha’i community to find out if they were prepared to receive and welcome a dignitary like Mr. Sharon. I am sure the request of Sharon must have been recorded in the minutes of NSA meetings of every country. No doubt it was Sharon’s heartfelt desire to see the progress of Baha’i Faith in other parts of the world. Alas his long illness which decapacited him prevented him from his desire.

During the US-Iraq war Sharon asked one of the Patriot missiles to be fitted just above the Baha’i World Centre. He remarked that these Buildings are very important for the state of Israel and protection of these buildings is responsibility of the state.

Sharon died slow but painful death for more than 8 years when he suffered the second, devastating stroke in January 2006. But the he will have a very blessed life in the Abha Kingdom with the blessing of Bahá'u'lláh, Abdul Baha and Guardian Shoghi Effendi.

I am sure the Baha’is will have condolence meeting for Sharon all over the world as he was a Friend and well wisher of Baha’is in fact even more than this.

Sharon has gone, but his many services for the Baha’i Faith will always be remembered.

An open letter to Dr. Payman Mohajer

Dear Dr. Payman Mohajer,

Sub : The Greatest Mystery of Bahá'í Faith is now solved; Teaching in Holy Land of Israel

Your concern towards morality is well known in the Bahá'í Faith. Indeed you have contributed immensely (both directly and indirectly) in giving due importance to this aspect in the Bahá'í Faith. You would agree that as Bahá'ís, we are also concerned of the morality of our immediate environment, as the Faith aims at creating a conducive environment for the Faith to thrive and prosper. Also, adverse conditions of the society, could have an impact on members of Bahá'í Faith.

With this background, I sincerely appreciate your stand during one of the training secessions of Teachers/Animators of Study circle, you posed a thought-provoking question to the participants, "What is the purpose of our core activities?"

You then went on to share an explanation, by giving the example of a glass. You said, that while it is not inaccurate to say that the glass is transparent, it is evident that transparency is not the purpose of the glass. Transparency is one of the attributes of the glass, but its purpose is to hold liquid. Similarly, one of the attributes of our core activities is that they become portals for entry by troops or instruments for teaching - but that is not their purpose ! Now if someone were to ask us whether the purpose of our inviting them to join study circles is to make them Bahá'ís, we can confidently say 'NO' and tell them that the purpose of our core activities is to assist in the transformation and betterment of society."

This approach solves a puzzle. One of the biggest mysteries of the Bahá'í Faith, is not teaching the Faith in Israel. Mr. Payman Mohajer, as a die hard supporter of Persian Bahá'ís in Bahá'í Administration, you have initiated teaching Ruhi Book in Israel. Indeed Bahá'u'lláh guides us from one idea to another!

In the Message on behalf of Universal House of Justice you mentioned : “Let us start children moral classes in Israel of children age between 6 to 11 years, Jr. Youth classes of age between 12 to 15 years, launch Intensive program of growth, contact the parents of the children and Jr. youth invite them to study circles try to make them good human beings, develop essential virtues such as the knowledge of God, trustworthiness, honesty, and justice Build a strong moral framework that will assist children/Jr. Youths and their parents to achieve excellence in material, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of life.”

"If they (Israeli Jews) insist that we want to become Bahá'ís, we say to them,” Teaching of the Bahá'í faith is not permitted and hence we cannot accept any declaration from them. The purpose of our core activities is to assist in the transformation and betterment of society."

Mr. Mohajer your idea could not have come at a better time. The state of morality today in Israel is at its nadir. The western culture has penetrated to an extent that we find Israel a replica of USA. Be it addiction to drugs and alcohol, disrespect to parents, irresponsible behavior at school / colleges or any other vice – Israel today is in forefront. The matter is so grave that even a section of religious Jews have been staging demonstrations drawing attention of the Government towards need for reformation. At this hour of crisis, I think it is worth that Study Circles (Ruhi Book) be initiated. The Ruhi Books have been so systematically drafted that it is sure to touch the lives of the students.

Keeping in mind the sensitivities of ban on propagating the Faith in Israel, the Ruhi Book should be taught just with the aim of improving the moral standards.

I think, as Bahá'ís, we will be doing our bit to contribute towards the country which has sheltered us and in which our Holy Land is located.

We owe it to Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá, that the land which has their shrines is kept pure and becomes model of morality.

Mr. Mohajer, would appreciate your initiative in this direction. I am sure the UHJ would also be supportive. Together let us work towards making the world a better place to live.

Taken from the Internet

Israeli Gov't renews tax-exempt status of Baha'i Center

By JEREMY SHARON

03/20/2012 03:19

Tax arrangement was originally agreed upon between the state and the Bahai movement in 1987.

The Justice Ministry announced on Monday that it has renewed a deal with the Bahai World Center in Israel exempting it from indirect taxes for another five-year term.

The announcement comes ahead of the holiday of Naw-Ruz, the Bahai New Year that takes place on Wednesday. The tax arrangement was originally agreed upon between the state and the Bahai movement in 1987.

Representatives of the Bahai faith, headed by Albert Lincoln, the secretary-general of the center, welcomed the signing of the agreement, which he said benefits both Israel and the Bahai community.

The implementation of the agreement is supervised by an interministerial committee, headed by the director of the Justice Ministry, Dr. Guy Rotkoff, who approved the continuation of the arrangement.

The Bahai have been a recognized religious community in Israel since 1971.

The government will transfer funds equivalent to any indirect outlays incurred by the World Bahai Center or any of its associated non-profit organizations for activities it carries out in operating and developing the sites.

Rotkoff underlined the importance of the relationship with the Bahai center, especially for the activities that it has done to help develop the Galilee region.

It is so good that the Tax exemption has been RENEWED by the Government of Israel. Now while Informing the Bahais about this RENEWED relationship the BELOVED HOUSE OF JUSTICE need not write CONFIDENTIAL.

• Why not freedom of teaching the Bahai Faith to the Jews citizen of Israel?

• Why the citizen of Israel should be deprived of the HEALING MESSAGE OF BAHA'U'LLAH?

• Why the Children and Jr. Youth of Israel should be deprived of opportunity of becoming a good human being and achieving excellence in material, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of life through our STUDY CIRCLES, CHILDREN MORAL CLASSES and JR. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES.

Dear Dr. Albert Lincoln

Dr. Albert Lincoln, Secretary-General, Bahá’í World Centre. Dr. Lincoln was born in the United States in 1945. He is a direct descendent of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, and a more distant relative of the sixteenth, Abraham Lincoln.

In 1994 he was appointed Secretary-General of the Haifa-based Bahá’í International Community. In this role, which is a form of volunteer service to the community, offered without remuneration, Dr. Lincoln has been responsible for the relations between the Bahá’í World Centre and all religions and communities in Israel. Noteworthy milestones in his sixteen-year period of service include the inscription of the Bahá’í sites in Haifa and Akko on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List in 2008.

Over the years Dr. Lincoln’s efforts toward achieving equality and human brotherhood have been based on a positive view of diversity. This approach has earned much recognition, as expressed in the Tolerance Medal that he received from the District Governor of the Rotary Clubs in Israel in 2004 and the Award of Merit given by the Beit Hagefen Arab-Jewish Center in 2005.

Since 2000 the Department of Middle Eastern History and the Bahá’í World Centre under Dr. Lincoln’s leadership have collaborated in a series of public lectures on the Bahá’í Faith, opening the Bahá’í Community to the general public in Israel and contributing to the bridge of understanding between religions.

During his professional career, Dr. Lincoln worked as a lawyer in four countries (France, Central African Republic, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire), three languages, and many different fields of the law, ranging from human rights, intellectual property and natural resources to torts and criminal law.

Dear Dr. Lincoln - Success will depend upon whether the Bahá’í World Centre and the State of Israel have agreed for giving freedom of teaching the Bahá’í Faith in Israel and to the citizen of Israel. Merely by making some arrangements of public lectures, establishing Chair for Bahá’í Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and bridging the understanding between different religions will not be an appropriate way of giving a certificate of success to you.

What the people of Israel want is the ‘Healing Messages’ of Baha’u’llah, Abdul Baha and Shoghi Effendi. The Bahá’ís of Jewish Background should be given an opportunity to be heard by the UHJ and the Authorities in Israel so that we can raise our Heads in Pride and say to the world that “The Ban on Teaching of the Bahá’í Faith in Israel is lifted and now we have absolute Freedom of Teaching the Bahá’í Faith in our beloved Holy Land.”

Image Courtesy : University of Haifa