The relationship between the Jews and the Bahais, particularly in Haifa

Joe has asked for a post about the relationship between Judaism and the Bahai faith.

This is what I got from Denis, an expert on the subject:

In the late 19th century, many Iranian Jews converted to Baha'ism, so quite a few modern Iranian Baha'is have Jewish descent. Beyond that, the Baha'is view Judaism mainly through the focus of Abraham and Moses, whom they consider 'Manifestations of God' (mazahir ilahiyya), that is, human beings outwardly but God in reality, sent to bring new religious revelations. There is no particular take on rabbinical Judaism. and the Torah is generally subsumed as part of the Old Testament in the Christian sense.

Muslim writers make a lot of the fact the Baha'is have their centre in Haifa, arguing that they are part of the world Zionist/anti-Islamic plot. Not only is this as ludicrous as all the other Zionist plots, but it makes no historical sense, since the Baha'is were exiled to Akko by the Ottomans, went on under the British mandate, and only came in contact with those nasty Zionists in 1848 or so, on amicable terms, of course. Since they do not take part in politics (under pain of excommunication), they would make very poor conspirators. They do not convert Israelis, and if an Israeli happens to convert, he/she is required to leave the country to avoid the impression that the Baha'is plan to convert the population. (Of course, they expect all Jews to convert en masse further down the line.)

Comments

[Huldah]

Irene

I brought a school party to Haifa in 1997 to see the astonishingly beautiful gardens which the Bahais have built around their founder's tomb.

These gardens must rank amongst the most spectacular in the world simply because of their situation on MtCarmel sloping down to Haifa, with glorious views to the Mediterranean.

That said, the Bahais who watched over Baha'ullah's tomb were amongst the most unfriendly and humourless people I have ever encountered. Upon meeting my particularly respectful, quiet and well behaved group of students, their attitude was most unwelcoming.

My students had been welcomed at principal Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and had impressed our guide and our hosts of all faiths with their quiet and respectful behaviour. They were astonished by the sourness of the Bahais they encountered.

What a shame.

[joe]

Thanks, that is interesting. From my very brief reading, I understand that Bahai is some kind of sect of Islam.

Do they integrate and attend ordinary schools/universities in Haifa, Irene?