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99 Mar 29 UHJ Bahá'í Chair Jerusalem
Universal House of Justice
(c) 2006 Bahá'í World Centre
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THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT
29 March 1999
Transmitted electronically
To National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá’í Friends,

We are happy to announce that documents were signed today establishing a Chair for

Bahá’í Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After visiting the Shrine of the

Bab, the University’s President and Rector, together with other senior officers and

representatives of the Bahá’í World Centre, took part in a brief private ceremony. The

signature and exchange of documents concluded discussions initiated by the University

nearly a year ago. In the introduction to its formal proposal for the establishment of the

Chair, the University thus explained its motivation:

Three years ago, Professor Moshe Sharon began to teach the History

and Sacred Literature of the Bahá’í Faith, on a regular basis, at the

Institute of Asian and African Studies in the Faculty of Humanities

of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.vAs a result of Professor

Sharon’s pioneering work, the University has become convinced of

the importance of the field and of the need to provide an institutional

basis for the continuation and development of this work on both the

teaching and research levels.

It is noteworthy that in 1925, when the University was being established, the beloved

Guardian wrote a letter of warm encouragement to its founders, since which time it has

achieved world renown.

We offer thanksgiving at the Holy Threshold for this unanticipated manifestation of

Baha’u’llah’s ceaseless bounties.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
{SIGNED: THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE}
cc: The Hands of the Cause of God
International Teaching Centre
Boards of Counsellors