The Five Year Plan 2011-2016 (Summary)/Developments at the Bahá’í World Centre

The Five Year Plan 2011-2016 (Summary) by Bahá’í World Centre

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[Page 118]

Developments at the Bahá’í World Centre

Visitors enjoying their walk down the terraces during open day. [Page 119] The progress that has been made by Bahá’ís in their community-building efforts throughout the world has been paralleled by developments at the Bahá’í World Centre and by the deepening of the bonds that connect the hearts of all believers to the spiritual and administrative centre of their Faith. Pilgrims from a widening array of backgrounds made their way to the Holy Land to visit the Holy Shrines as an act of worship; delegates representing the diversity of the Bahá’í world came to participate in the Eleventh International Bahá’í Convention; the Sacred Texts became more widely accessible; and an increasing number of friends were invited to share their experience, thoughts, and insights in specific fields in response to the growing complexity of the administrative activity of the Bahá’í World Centre.

Eleventh International Bahá’í Convention

The Eleventh International Bahá’í Convention marked the fiftieth anniversary of the inaugural Convention in 1963 at which the first Universal House of Justice was elected. On the first day of the Convention, which took place from 29 April to 2 May 2013 in Haifa, Israel, delegates from around the world cast their ballots to elect the nine members of the Supreme Body of the Bahá’í Faith.

Nearly 1,100 delegates from 157 National Spiritual Assemblies came in person to the Convention, while those unable to be present voted by absentee ballot. Of the potential 1,539 ballots, 1,537 were cast, or 99.9%, a remarkable achievement considering the diversity of means and circumstances of the electors. Coming from Bahá’í communities as varied as urban centres or remote island villages, the delegates ranged in age from 22 to 86; 41.3% of them were women. The absence of the representatives of the Bahá’í community of Iran—where the Bahá’í community faces intense persecution and its administration has been dissolved—was again keenly felt. Similar to previous International Conventions, a bouquet of red roses was placed at the front of the stage for the duration of the Convention, a visible reminder throughout the proceedings of the courage and sacrifice of these dear friends.

After the reading of the 2013 Riḍván message of the Universal House of Justice, the delegates focused their deliberations on the work before the Bahá’í community as it strives to contribute to the spiritual and material advancement of civilization. They also gained valuable insights from the documentary film, Frontiers of Learning, which portrayed the experience being gained in the process of community building in four clusters around the world; a document entitled Insights from the Frontiers of Learning prepared by the International Teaching Centre was also distributed at the Convention. Those in attendance drew from all these sources when sharing their thoughts, experiences, and insights as part of a global learning process. As the delegates returned to their respective countries, all took heart from the words of the Universal House of Justice which observed that the Bahá’í community was “moving steadily forward, advancing in understanding, eager to acquire insights from experience, ready to take on new tasks ... wholly dedicated to the fulfilment of its mission”.⁶¹

A delegate casts her vote in the election of the Universal House of Justice. [Page 120]

Protection, Conservation, and Development of the Bahá’í Holy Places

The development of Bahjí and the protection of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, the Most Holy Shrine in the Bahá’í world, was further enhanced through the construction of extensive boundary walls around the north-western and south-eastern perimeters, securing the Sacred Spot and clearly marking the boundaries of the land.

In November 2014, the Universal House of Justice announced that a major property adjacent to the main terrace of the Shrine of the Báb had been purchased, marking the culmination of a process that began over sixty years ago at the direction of Shoghi Effendi. Renovations to the building that stands on the land are under way to create a facility that will serve the needs of pilgrims.

In 2011, Junayn Garden, a site north of Bahjí that Bahá’u’lláh visited on occasion, was opened to visitors, after the meticulous restoration of the small farmhouse located there and the development of its gardens and orchards. Boundary walls with decorative metal panels and gates at this site, and at the Ridván Garden, now embellish these Holy Sites and provide additional security.

In Haifa, the House of the Master underwent full restoration the first comprehensive renovation since the construction of the House in 1908. Some of the features of the building that had been modified over the decades were restored to their original condition, and rooms were furnished to reflect their original appearance and use. In addition, the car and carriage occasionally used by the Master during His Ministry were professionally restored and put on display in befitting climate-controlled areas—the car at the House of the Master and the carriage at the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá.

Some thirty years after its inauguration, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice underwent a major renovation of its interior. Spaces frequented by pilgrims and visitors and used for administrative functions were [Page 121] refreshed and beautified, and technical and other modifications, including increasing its energy efficiency, were made to ensure that the building meets both current and future needs. In addition, the project included major repairs to the retaining wall on the south side of the building.

Finally, a new facility was constructed on the south-east portion of the property at Bahjí to serve the administrative and maintenance needs of that Holy Place and its environs, and to provide space for community activities for the staff serving in ‘Akká.

Sacred Texts

During the period under review, much emphasis was placed on further systematizing the work to index and catalogue the content of the Sacred Texts of the Central Figures as well as the letters written by and on behalf of Shoghi Effendi. To this end, the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, the Writings and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the letters of Shoghi Effendi have, for the most part, been digitized and rendered electronically searchable. A sizeable group of highly dedicated volunteers were mobilized to provide short abstracts of these Writings, utterances, and letters to ensure that over the coming years the essential content and unique themes of the entire Revelation are, to the extent possible, accessible in English.

A complementary line of action was to increase substantially the number of provisional translations of the Writings in English which, while valuable in themselves, also serve as a key resource for accelerating the production of new authorized translations. Efforts in this regard gained momentum over the past few years, which in turn generated much experience in how to enhance the quality of translations produced by a widening pool of contributors devoted to this service.

The Master in His carriage, which has recently been restored and put on display.

The developments in both the abstracting and translation work, moreover, were major factors in enabling the Universal House of Justice to improve the pace at which volumes of the Writings are published by the Bahá’í World Centre. Mindful of Shoghi Effendi’s observation that the content of Some Answered Questions is "essential for grasping the significance and implications of the Bahá’í Revelation",62 it was republished with a new translation in 2014. Another book prepared for publication was Days of Remembrance: Selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh for Bahá’í Holy Days. It is anticipated, moreover, that additional volumes of the Writings of the Central Figures will be published over the course of the Five Year Plan commencing in 2016.

Finally, significant steps were taken that should result in increasing the rate at which Tablets are made available on the Bahá’í Reference Library, both in the original languages and in English translation. [Page 122] Unveiling of a road sign in Arabic, English, and Hebrew for the UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace in Haifa, Israel, on 29 May 2011, in the presence of prominent guests including the Archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church for the North of Israel, the Director-General of UNESCO, and the Mayor of Haifa.

ככר אונסקו לסובלנות ושלום ארגון החינוך, המדע והתרבות של האו"ם הפועל לקידום שלום, סובלנות והבנה בין עמי העולם השונים

ميدان اليونسكو للتسامح والسلام

UNESCO FOR TOLERANCE AND PEACE Sqr. [Page 123]

Inauguration of the UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace

In recent years, Haifa has more firmly established its reputation as one of the region's most ethnically and religiously diverse cities, including among its residents Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze, and Bahá’ís.

In this spirit, on 29 May 2011, a special ceremony was held in the Bahá’í gardens to inaugurate the UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace, situated at the point where Haifa's historic German Templer Colony meets the terraced gardens of the Shrine of the Báb. This followed the inscription, in July 2008, of the Shrines of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, together with the surrounding buildings and gardens, on the UNESCO World Heritage List as sites of "outstanding universal value". At the ceremony, Ms. Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, said, "I am more than convinced that the only ways to build a more peaceful and equitable world are through education and dialogue-to deepen understanding, to strengthen mutual respect, and to prepare the ground for reconciliation."

Over the next year, the Square was developed through the addition of upgraded stonework and decorative floral plantings in the centre of its traffic circle. In 2012, at an event to mark the completion of this work, hosted by the Bahá’í World Centre in collaboration with the Haifa Municipality and the Beit Hagefen Arab-Jewish Cultural Center, some 250 students from various high schools around Haifa came together at Beit Hagefen to explore the concept of co-existence and the theme of Haifa as a shared city. The young people then participated in a march towards the UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace, led by the Mayor of Haifa, a representative from Beit Hagefen, and a representative from the Bahá’í World Centre. The march ended with the symbolic release of doves representing Haifa's international stature as the City of Peace.

Bahá’í Pilgrimage

Bahá’í pilgrimage is simple yet profound; its ultimate aim is to provide the believers with the opportunity to pay homage to the Manifestations of God for this age, and to supplicate at Their Shrines. As the pilgrims meditate in the precincts hallowed by the footsteps, tribulations, and triumphs of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the Guardian, each heart, moved with tenderness and love, recognizes its spiritual home. They undertake this journey with Bahá’ís from many cultures and countries around the world and enjoy precious moments of joyful fellowship together. Shoghi Effendi often pointed out that pilgrims are the stream of life-blood flowing in and out of the heart of the Faith. They

Pilgrims from Puerto Rico who came as part of a country group. [Page 124]

The Five Year Plan 2011-2016: Summary of Achievements and Learning

bring with them news of their activities and return home, after their short but intensive sojourn in the Holy Land, reinvigorated by the experience, keen to rededicate themselves to service to humanity, and eager to share with family and friends the joy that has filled their hearts.

For many, pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a once in a lifetime journey. To reinforce this unforgettable experience, enhancements continue to be made to the programme of pilgrimage. In the House of the Master, pilgrims now visit the tea room of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the bírúní reception area, and the room occupied by Shoghi Effendi as a youth; a recording of the voice of the Master has been restored and is played during their visit; and they view the car occasionally used by the Master that is displayed there. At the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá, they also have the opportunity to see the carriage He sometimes used.

In the International Archives Building, where the pilgrims view with reverence the sacred relics so carefully collected and preserved by the Guardian, significant modifications have been made to the displays and to the design of decorative objects, augmenting the beauty and dignity of the setting in which these precious artefacts are presented.

During the Five Year Plan, over 15,000 individuals were lovingly invited by the Universal House of Justice to come for pilgrimage. Changes continue to be made to facilitate the application process so that ever more Bahá’ís, from all walks of life, benefit from the bounties of pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines. As of 2011, there is no longer a waiting list for pilgrimage; currently believers who submit a request may receive pilgrimage dates within a few months.

The group pilgrimage programme, established in 2007 by the Universal House of Justice to facilitate pilgrimage for those who may find it difficult to come on their own, was expanded from 30 countries in 2010 to more than 60 in 2016. As part of such a group, believers may take advantage of reduced travel and accommodation costs, receive assistance in obtaining visas and travel documents, and be accompanied by one or two experienced friends from their country.

A group of pilgrims from India.

Friends from Macau on pilgrimage as a group. [Page 125]

The Flow of Visitors to the Gardens

The Holy Places and their surrounding gardens belong to all of humanity. Bahá’ís view themselves as the trustees of these sites, and efforts are made to continue to learn how to welcome increasing numbers of visitors. The terraced gardens in Haifa are already one of the most visited sites in Israel, having welcomed more than 10 million people since their inauguration in the summer of 2001. These visitors come from a wide range of backgrounds: from ministers of governments, diplomats, and Supreme Court judges, to special interest groups, university students, and school children. Over the past five years, almost half a million people participated in more than 10,000 guided tours that have been offered at the Bahá’í World Centre.

Visitors enjoying the view of the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel.

Annual Number of Visitors to the Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa and ‘Akká 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 [Page 126]

Open Day

Visitors enjoying the view of the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel.

Special open days have been organized since 2009 with the overall aim of making the Shrines and surrounding gardens available to an increasing number of visitors. While the first open days were organized to mark specific milestones, since 2013 open days have been scheduled to occur when expected attendance is highest, such as holiday periods, an arrangement that allows large numbers to circulate easily throughout the gardens and take in their peaceful atmosphere. On these occasions, which generally take place twice a year, the upper terraces are opened to the public, and visitors are allowed to walk about freely without taking part in a guided tour. The guests are warmly welcomed, and local guides who speak Arabic, Hebrew, and Russian, as well as volunteers from the Bahá’í World Centre, are available at various points on the terraces to answer questions and provide general information. Visitors also have the opportunity to watch an informational film on the Bahá’í Faith. The success of these occasions is evident in the radiant and happy faces of all those who come to enjoy the tranquillity of the Shrines and the beauty of the gardens.

Volunteers serving water to the visitors.