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01 Apr 10 UHJ 19 Day Feast
Universal House of Justice
(c) 2006 Bahá’í World Centre
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10 April 2001 
Transmitted by fax:  1-847-8697274 
The National Spiritual Assembly of 
    the Bahá’ís of the United States 
Dear Bahá’í Friends, 
The Universal House of Justice has considered with keen interest your letter of 29 July 1999 concerning the Nineteen Day Feast, and we have been asked to convey the following. Your letter presents a compelling case for flexibility in the scheduling of the Nineteen Day Feast.  However, the House of Justice does not approve of your suggestion to separate the administrative portion of the Feast from the devotional and social ones.  The letter of 28 August 1989 we were instructed to write to all National Spiritual Assemblies said:  “While the House of Justice does not wish to de-emphasize the preference expressed by Shoghi Effendi that the Feast be held on the first day of the Bahá’í month, it feels that in instances of difficulty, where the friends would otherwise be unable to attend, the National Spiritual Assembly may point out to Local Assemblies that it is permissible to hold the Feast at another time within the Bahá’í month, such as on a weekend.”  In view of the circumstances described in your letter, the House of Justice advises you to make use of this latitude as necessary, so that by permitting Local Assemblies to schedule the Feast in their communities on the weekend following and closest to the first day of the Bahá’í month, time can be found for the Feast to the full extent of the requirements for all of its component parts.  By this scheduling, the Feast can be organized to take the greater part of a day, if the friends so desire.  In such cases, the Local Assembly should establish a schedule for the entire year and announce it to the friends. It is of course fully within the discretion of Local Spiritual Assemblies to decide to hold special meetings at any time for the discussion of community affairs. We are to express the deep appreciation of the House of Justice for your thought-provoking letter, which has prompted it to review this important subject.  Be assured of its 
ardent prayers in the Holy Shrines for the confirmation of your manifold efforts to advance the development of your dearly loved community. 
With loving Bahá’í greetings, 
For Department of the Secretariat 
cc:  International Teaching Centre 
Continental Counsellors in United States  (by email)

