Judaism and the Torah: inheritance, interpretation, and universal hope

His bounty will overshadow them, and this race will day by day progress, and be delivered from its age-long obscurity and degradation.

… What is universal today is divine and causes the progress of all humanity, while what is particular is pure detriment and sheer loss. Now Israel must set aside infirm notions and, with a sound purpose, concern itself with matters universal. Israel's thoughts must settle on what benefits all and brings happiness to all humanity.

O Lord, God of Abraham and Isaac! Thou hast clothed this glorious party of Israel in the robe of virtue and distinguished them with a special gift, and made them the manifestation of "Verily, I have chosen you above all peoples." From that people Thou didst raise up Prophets and gather blessed souls beneath the shadow of the Most Great Banner. O Lord! Make manifest and evident that which Thou didst promise through the tongue of the Prophets, and make them successful and joyous through the gifts which Thou didst give them glad tidings of. Grant organization to this scattered people and bestow eternal glory upon this oppressed nation, that they may gather in the Holy Land which is the inheritance of their forefathers and with utmost glory engage in Thy praise and glorification.

The essence of the matter is this: When His Holiness Moses the Great delivered Israel from ancient Egypt and brought them to the Holy Land, through the power of God's law, the force of God's Kingdom, the breaths of prophetic revelation, and the education of the pure ones, Israel ascended from the depths of abasement to the heights of glory in both worlds. They progressed in all degrees of existence until, in the time of David and Solomon, they reached such a station that the fame of their nobility reached all horizons and news of their virtues and qualities reached East and West.

The truth of the religion of Moses and of Baha'u'llah is one.

Extend utmost respect and honor to the Jewish believers, descendants of Abraham, on my behalf and kiss their faces and hair, for they heard the counsels of Abraham with the ear of the soul and carried them out with heart and limb.

… Moses the Interlocutor counts that people as the manifestation of great grace. Aaron knows Israel as the manifestations of the favors of the Incomparable Lord. Solomon considers his people as successful in both worlds. David sees the Jews as manifestations of the favors of the Loving Lord. Isaiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Ezra all praise and commend all of Israel.

Question: The American turns to the Master: "Honoured Teacher, what does the Prophet of the Baha'i Religion teach regarding the future of Israel, will Israel remain the Chosen People - until the end of time?"

Answer: The Master explains: "The word 'chosen' (in English) is easily regarded as meaning the same as 'favoured', 'spoiled', 'elect', 'before others'. … By whom have the Jews been chosen? We are agreed on this -by God, the Almighty! For what, to what purpose have they been chosen: for service, for sacrificial service, and because service and sacrifice are synonymous with suffering, the answer is: God, the All-Highest, has chosen the people of Israel for service and for suffering.

What harm could come from a statement by the Jews that Jesus was also a Manifestation of the Word of God? Have the Christians suffered for their belief in Moses? Have they experienced any loss of religious enthusiasm or witnessed any defeat in their religious belief by declaring that Moses was a Prophet of God, that the Torah was a Book of God and that all the prophets of Israel were prophets of God?

That is, the Word of God bestowed the spirit of faith upon the children of Israel, and that nation advanced in all degrees under the shadow of His Law and expanded until the time of Solomon and David, taking five hundred years before the Cause was spread as it should be.

Today is the day when the Sun of the Most Great Name is rising from the horizon of the world, mentioned in every Book by a different name. In the Torah It appeared and was recorded by the name of Jehovah - a name which, before the advent of Moses, was concealed in God's treasury of knowledge. Thus in the Torah He says: "I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name Jehovah I was not known to them."

However, the migration and wandering of Abraham resulted in the guidance of the entire world and precipitated the Manifestation of Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Christ, Muhammad and the Exalted One [the Bab].

He said, "Yes, Melchisedec," and that Melchisedec was the one who taught Abraham about God and through Abraham there came the "School of the Prophets," who guided the Hebrew race in spiritual truths, that Jesus Christ could be born to them.

Abraham was in Haran, but at last he was brought to this place, and the King of Peace, the teacher of Abraham, was here. Moses was here in these surroundings. The prophets of Israel all were here. Jesus Christ was also from here and Mohammed emigrated to this place, and this new Revelation also came to this place; although He originated in Persia, the Blessed Perfection came to this place.

With the Prophets, however, dream is one mode of revelation; above all with the Prophets of the Children of Israel the matter of dreams was of great moment. Some of the Prophets, in the night season and in the world of dreams, were commissioned: in that state they beheld a luminous Personage, clothed in a heavenly form, Who addressed them, saying: "Thou, go unto the land of Israel; thus proclaim, thus speak, and thus announce." Then, in the morning, they would arise and declare: "This question wherein ye stand perplexed---its reality is thus, and its solution thus and thus."

I went today to Khidr-Elijah - the Arabs call him Elias. The Blessed Beauty stayed there for three days.

(He said:) "After Solomon, Jeroboam created great mischief. He incited the people to ask Rehoboam, Solomon's son, since you have newly ascended the throne, to reduce the taxes and obligations. Rehoboam consulted - the wise ones said to reduce them, the foolish ones said 'This is your coronation day, if you give in now, they will demand this every day.' Rehoboam said 'During Solomon's time taxes were low, I will increase them.' This caused Jeroboam to separate ten tribes from Rehoboam and created great mischief. Things reached the point where war broke out and they became divided. The conflict lasted several hundred years until finally it led to idol worship.

Now these souls who create discord do so in the name of truth - later the result becomes clear. Jeroboam acted in the name of justice and equity, but afterwards the Children of Israel became idol worshippers. Baal, whose image had a human body and calf's head, was made of copper and they would light fires beneath it. Then the priest would come and place a child on this Baal where it would burn. In any case, things reached the point where the Children of Israel became idol worshippers.

Then Elijah appeared. His Holiness Elijah reinstated the Law of God. In this very cave his disciples would sit while he taught and instructed, and truly he was a reviver. Therefore I love him very much.

Always in every age, those who wanted to raise the standard of opposition would make some righteous claim - claiming their purpose was truth. They would use this to gradually gain influence, then little by little promote their own aims. A skilled thief first becomes friends with the caravan and acts very benevolent and kind until he leads the caravan near the thieves at the mountaintop. Then it becomes clear he was in league with the thieves - but it's too late, the caravan has been robbed.

The friends of God must be very vigilant and show the utmost sagacity and intelligence. As soon as they see someone showing special familiarity, they should know his purpose is division. Anyone who makes new claims and raises objections - whatever the claim may be, if he makes a new claim - know that he has hidden motives and will cause discord. In this Cause the Blessed Beauty has established a criterion that removes and averts all discord, because according to the conclusive text, the House of Justice is under the protection of the Blessed Beauty.

With utmost detachment, His Holiness Elijah rescued the Israelites from idol worshiping and immersed them in the ocean of divine effulgence. He renewed the religion of God and established its foundation on firm ground. And when He had organized the affairs and edified the people, He withdrew into solitude, which is why it is revealed in the Qur'an, "And we uplifted Him to a place on high."

Now the Jews believe that a chariot of fire descended from heaven and caught him up to heaven; but the fact is that he retired to spend his time in communion with God. This is the story.

Moses endured hardship and difficulty for 40 years, and after him appointed Joshua as his successor and went to rest and passed away, and no one knows the place of his death nor the cave to which he retreated.

Elijah revived the religion of Moses after Jeroboam and Rehoboam had destroyed it. He too, like Moses, rested in a cave on Mount Carmel and passed away, and no one knows his tomb.

They made this idol of copper and would light a fire beneath it. Then a priest would come and place a child on top of this Baal, and it would burn.

Matters reached such a state that the Children of Israel became idol-worshippers. Then Elijah appeared. His Holiness Elijah re-established the Law of God. In this very cave his disciples would sit while he taught and instructed them. He was, in truth, a reviver of the Faith.

Because Moses as a babe chose the fire and had his tongue burned, therefore in after life God endowed his mouth with great eloquence.

Moses, outwardly, struck and killed a man, then came and said "I am he who killed that man, and now I have become a Prophet."

"All the prophets of God were poor, His Holiness Moses was a mere shepherd. This will show you that in the estimation of God, poverty is greater than the accumulation of wealth--that the poor are more acceptable than the lazy rich.

O carpenter! Noah was a carpenter and prepared the ark of salvation.

O servant of the Blessed Beauty! Solomon, son of David - peace be upon him - hath said: "O my Lord! Grant me a sovereignty which suits not another after me."

The hoopoe was one who Solomon sent as a messenger and who achieved the highest degree of fame.

But the fame of the beauty of Joseph is still universal and the honor of the disciples of Christ still endures; their sufferings are the cause of life everlasting.

The designation of "son of God" at the time of Moses and Christ was a term which was used also in relation to the Children of Israel, as in the Torah they have been called "sons of God". In Exodus at the end of chapter four, God said unto Moses to inform Pharaoh that "the children of Israel are my first-born sons. If thou wilt not free them, I will slay thy first-born son."

But regarding the word Israel, this is the title of Jacob himself and not that of his Children. Then from the word of "Bani Israel" Bani (descendants) was dropped and they sufficed with the word "Israel." … Afterward the word Israel was used to denote the "people of God" as it is mentioned in the Bible, i.e., the nations of God. Thus it was gradually generalized as to denote all the souls who accepted the religion of God.

His exalted Word states: "O Children of Israel! Remember My favor wherewith I favored you and how I preferred you above all creatures."

Furthermore, the Torah, held to be the most ancient of histories, existeth today in three separate versions: the Hebrew, considered authentic by the Jews and the Protestant clergy; the Greek Septuagint, which is used as authoritative in the Greek and other Eastern churches; and the Samaritan Torah, the standard authority for that people. These three versions differ greatly, one from another, even with regard to the lifetimes of the most celebrated figures.

They have gathered various sayings of the Prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Solomon, David, Jeremiah, Zechariah and others into one volume, though most parts of it are historical accounts written after Moses.

Regarding the matter of Judas, and the matter of David, and the matter of Noah, and other matters recorded in the Torah - know that the Torah has two parts: one part historical and one part divine laws and religious ordinances. The section of laws and ordinances is from His Eminence Moses, but the historical section is from Ezra. Proof of this is that at the end of the fifth book, events that occurred after Moses are recorded, and it is clear as the sun that events after Moses were recorded by someone else.

As to thy question concerning the additions to the Old and New Testament: Know thou, verily, as people could not understand the words, nor could they apprehend the realities therein, therefore they have translated them according to their own understanding and interpreted the verses after their own ideas and thus the text fell into confusion. This is undoubtedly true. As to an intentional addition: This is something uncertain. But they have made great mistakes as to the understanding of the texts and the comprehending of the references and have therefore fallen into doubts, especially in regard to the symbolical verses.

It is evident that the five books which are generally attributed to Moses are written by Ezra, the high priest. Only the Tablets and the commandments belong to Moses. The contents of the Books will bear out this argument, because, many events are recorded which transpired long after Moses.

They contain many inspired utterances, but through the lapse of time human ideas have crept in and afterwards men have come to believe that they are all, in their totality the revealed words of God.

Similarly the Christian theologians up to the last century believed that the Pentateuch was written by Moses but modern criticism of the Bible by scholars and thinkers has shown us otherwise because there so many historical discrepancies in these books that are simply bewildering. Only the Decalogue and a few other utterances are [from] Moses, the rest is written by Ezra, the priest.

He stated that this is so, but the Torah that is in the hands of people is not the complete heavenly Book. For instance, it states 'Moses said thus.' What has this to do with a heavenly Book, and what has something written after Moses to do with Moses? These are additions that historians have appended to the Torah. The Torah is that Book of Deuteronomy which contains the laws.

The only parts of the Bible we should consider as sacred and inspired are these revealed writings and visions. With regard to the Book of Moses, only those parts are sacred which contain his inspired writings, such as the Ten Commandments, etc. The rest are mere books of history written much later than the time of Moses and often not literally true.

There are three ancient Bibles.

1st the Jewish Bible,

2d the [Sanhedrin] Bible which was translated by seventy wisest Rabbis into Greek at the time of Alexander [crossed out and replaced with Ptolemy],

3d the Samaritan Bible.

These three Bibles differ a great deal from each other on historical ground.

A detailed response is not possible, so I write briefly, and it is this: The story about David is from the fabrications of the Talmudic Jews and has no foundation. There are many such fabrications in some Talmudic stories, not limited to this one.

Now, the question of the excellence or baseness of things is determined either by reason or by religious law. Some believe that it is based on religious law: Such is the case with the Jews, who believe that all the commandments of the Torah are binding and that they are matters of religious law rather than of reason. Thus they say that one of the commandments of the Torah is that meat and butter cannot be eaten together, for this is "trefah" (and "trefah" in Hebrew means unclean, while "kosher" means clean). This they say is a question of religious law and not of reason.

'ABDUL-BAHA: In the Torah the command for fasting is from sunset to sunset for three days. For three days and three nights they, the Jews, take nothing. This is not obligatory. There are Fasts of three days, seven days and nine days.

As for the matter of your daughter, if they are known and recognized as Jewish among the people, carry out the law of the Torah.

Likewise, the physical laws and transactions of the Torah suited that time. They cannot be implemented now. There are ten death sentences in the Torah - can they be carried out? For instance, can someone who takes out another's eye have their own eyes removed? Can someone who throws a stone breaking another's tooth have their tooth broken with a stone? Can one who curses their father be put to death? Even before the time of the Messenger of God, the Israelites had suspended these laws.

Now I ask you, O esteemed Jews, be fair: according to the Mosaic Law, should a hand be cut off for stealing one rial? That was appropriate for that time and place. The Israelites were in the wilderness, and maintaining order in the wilderness was not easily achieved. Severity in retribution was necessary to maintain order. Therefore, in the Mosaic Law, the divine decree was to cut off the hand for stealing one rial. Now be fair, in these days in America, can one cut off a hand for stealing a million rials? They said no. They themselves admitted that the Ten Commandments cannot be fully implemented.

Briefly, this Man, Who appeared lowly in the eyes of all, arose nonetheless with such power as to abrogate a fifteen-hundred-year-old Dispensation, notwithstanding that the least deviation from its laws would expose the offender to grave danger and bring about his death and annihilation. Moreover, in the time of Christ the general morals and manners of the Israelites had become entirely confused and corrupted, and Israel had fallen into a state of utmost degradation, misery, and bondage.

The reason for this was that they said: "The Revelation of Christ, according to the clear text of the Torah, will be attested by certain signs, and so long as these signs have not appeared, whoso layeth claim to be a Messiah is an impostor. Among these signs is this, that the Messiah should come from an unknown place, yet we all know this man's house in Nazareth, and can any good thing come out of Nazareth? The second sign is that He shall rule with a rod of iron, that is, He must act with the sword, but this Messiah has not even a wooden staff. Another of the conditions and signs is this: He must sit upon the throne of David and establish David's sovereignty. Now, far from being enthroned, this man has not even a mat to sit on.

O thou who art honorable and faithful to God!

How many men and women awaited the manifestation of the Messiah after Moses? Yet when His beauty shone forth and His face appeared, they (the people) did not recognize Him, but continued to follow the superstitions of the Pharisees, who used to say: "Where is the authority of the Messiah? Where is the throne of David, the Glorious? Where is his iron rod? Where are his innumerable hosts? Where are his attacking armies? Where are the angels of heaven? Where do we see justice of government existing among people and even among beasts and insects? Where is his great majesty? Where is his power, which shaketh heaven and earth? Is not this a claim of one who is bewildered and wandering amidst valleys and hills? Doth he not ride upon an ass, while on his head there is a crown of thorns and he is despised?"

Indeed, all of the foregoing statements are of the evil opinions which the Pharisees used to proclaim through every man's tongue. But those who had listening ears and clear insight, listened not to such misleading speeches, but realized the Messiah as the rising Sun with His effulgent face, and that the radiance of His illumination was diffused over the whole world. They regarded even the ass on which He (Christ) was mounted as a splendid throne and also the thorns which were upon His head as a brilliant diadem!

Verily, direct thou thine own self towards His Kingdom, that thou mayest perceive that His traces and authority continue forever and will never cease!

These people of Israel are even unto the present day still expecting that Manifestation which the Bible hath foretold! How many Manifestations of Holiness, how many Revealers of the light everlasting, have appeared since the time of Moses, and yet Israel, wrapt in the densest veils of satanic fancy and false imaginings, is still expectant that the idol of her own handiwork will appear with such signs as she herself hath conceived!

The Master continued with a story of the Jewish rabbis:

In Jerusalem every now and then they broadcast a promise giving a specific time based on the holy scriptures and say that on such a date the Promised One will appear to deliver the Jews. They say, 'We have derived these from the holy texts.' But when that time and day approach they cast a doubt over their promise and give another. Thus they keep the Jews under the influence of their wish and desires and deprive them of the truth.

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"Now tell me, Ismael" the Master said, while beating several successive kindly blows on his back and cheeks, "Art thou sure that the Messiah shall appear after two years? If he do[es] not appear in that time wilt thou continue to believe in the Talmud and Rabbinical lore? Several times thou hast covenanted with me and every time thou hast broken it.

It has been reported many years ago that a young Moslem fell desperately in love with a beautiful Jewish girl. Of course it is forbidden in the laws of Moses to intermarry with strangers - so all his attempts to reach the girl proved abortive. Finally, in an accidental manner he stumbled over this legend and evolved a way to accomplish his aim.

He hired a boat and on a dark and stormy night when hardly anything could be seen he sailed far away. When it was about nine or ten o'clock he lighted a lamp and made for the shore. He raised the sails which were of snowy white stuff. Many credulous Jews seeing in the far off a dim solitary light and the faint outline of a white sail rushed toward the shore and watched eagerly its slow approach.

Before reaching the shore, suddenly the boat stopped and the Jews heard a tremulous yet distinct voice:- 'I am the Angel of the Lord! I have brought for you good tidings of deliverance! Rejoice and be of good courage! Thus said the Lord of Host, the Lord who delivered you out of the tyranny of Pharaohs, brought you out of Egypt and gave you the land flowing with milk and honey; the God of your fathers Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and Joseph. So and so has a virgin daughter. She is indeed comely and of a good Countenance. Therein a young man of the Lord of such and such. He has found grace in the sight of the Lord. Let these two, servant and maidservant, enter into the bond of matrimony. Unto them a son will be born who will be your promised Messiah. This is the command of your Lord! Beware lest you disobey the order of your God and be of those who are stiff necked. This is the Covenant of the Lord with you.'

Then bringing down the white sail and extinguishing the light, like the last glimmer of sunset, the boat vanished into the dark, stormy night. The next day the lover and the loved one were united in happy wedlock.

He proved the reality of Christ from the Old Testament. Then she asked for intellectual proofs. He gave her those also. She looked up and said: 'In the name of God, this is very good. He has a very good faith, but thou wilt not let him remain a Christian.

One man of this kind in the East has even written a book. Two Jewish children have written a beautiful commentaryproving the Cause of Christ, Muhammad, and the Blessed Perfection.

O Rahim! His Holiness Moses appeared with mighty signs, yet they did not accept Him. Each day He manifested with a proof, a clear evidence, and verses revealed, yet still the opposers and deniers acted without justice or fairness, until the cry "the hosts of God, they shall be victorious!" was raised from the horizon of divine triumph and the banners of victory were planted upon the loftiest stations.

We make mention of him who was named Musa and We bid him to that which We have bidden those servants who have turned towards this glorious station. Behold and remember when the Interlocutor came with clear signs, every remote scholar turned away from Him.

But O my Beloved and my Purpose, when I hear from them what the Jews said concerning Thee, then my innermost being is shaken and my heart trembles, for they say "God's hand is chained" - this from their rebellion against Thee and Thy trustees, though Thy hands of power were ever outstretched over all contingent things and extended over all created things.

O Hand of God! The Jews said "God's hand is chained up." Say: No, by His very Self, the True One!

Even now there are some Jews who have secluded themselves in Jerusalem and are engaged in extreme austerities and scripture reading, with some fasting for three consecutive days and nights, yet they are and shall remain rejected in the sight of God.

Now you who claim to be the sons of God and the first-born of Israel rose first in rebellion against God, Moses and Aaron. For we read in Numbers, Chapter 14, v. 2: 'And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; and the whole congregation said unto them: Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God that we had died in this wilderness! And Wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land..." Chapter 11, v. 4 and 5: 'And the children of Israel also wept again, and said: Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt; the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions and the garlic.'

The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.

Nebuchadnezzar also inflicted many calamities upon the Children of Israel. Because the Children of Israel were wavering, doubts would continually arise for them. These doubts cast them into such afflictions.

Today one finds few religious people among the Jews. When I was in Tiberias, I detected no trace of religious devotion from any Jew except one person. I saw an elderly neighbor who, at ninety years of age, was engaged in reading the Torah. I observed him reading the Torah in a state of supplication and humility.

For two thousand years it has continued thus, and their ultimate hope is the rebuilding of Solomon's Temple, behind whose ruined wall they wail and lament, weep and mourn, crying out when will this wall be restored?

There is an old wall remaining of Solomon's Temple. They gather there, kiss the wall and weep; but when Christ came, they crucified Him. You will see the wall. Men, women and children weeping and praying.

They are weeping because their sovereignty is taken away; while the Temple of Solomon has been destroyed. They are longing to try to establish Jewish sovereignty. They are not weeping for the sake of God... of Christ, but for sovereignty; they want worldly power.. to regain their former power and influence.

The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.

The Orthodox Jews according to the literal interpretation of a number of passages in the Old Testament, of course are holding such a belief but the growing literary and intellectual party, having cast away the enthusiasm born out of ignorance, discredit the whole proposition as nothing else but a dream. They think it is no more than a wild fancy on the part of the Jews to ever harbor the idea of founding the Solomonic Sovereignty in Jerusalem.

The essence of the Torah is the Ancient Covenant, and that Ancient Covenant was a harbinger of this new Covenant, which is the Covenant of the manifestation of the Lord with all His attributes and perfection.

It is a Covenant taken from all the Prophets, whereby the face of the earth shall be transformed into the supreme Paradise and the divine signs shall become manifest throughout the world.

O descendant of Abraham! If the Israelites look with fairness, they will see that all the signs have appeared. Matters that were impossible and inconceivable have come to pass, and the Lord of Hosts without armies has conquered East and West. The divine law will soon glorify Israel, and the blessed favors will ennoble Abraham's lineage.

In this Most Great Revelation, Israel has become the manifestation of the favors of the Glorious Lord. Therefore, throughout all regions, day by day it grows more honored. A special gaze of divine favor has been directed toward those oppressed ones, so that they may be delivered from their profound abasement, attain eternal glory, and make the desolate Holy Land prosperous and flourishing once again.

And this will undoubtedly come to pass, for the promises that God made through the tongue of the Prophets to this scattered and dispersed people will be fulfilled in this Most Great Cycle.

The meaning is that the abasement which Israel endured for two thousand five hundred years shall now be transformed into eternal glory, and outwardly too they shall become honored, to such a degree that they shall be envied by their enemies and coveted by their friends.

The promise of the Glorious Lord to Israel hath precedence - those promises shall be fulfilled. The children of Jacob shall become honored, and in the Egypt of guidance they shall be accepted and esteemed.

The Israelites in Iran were in the utmost abasement, but from the day the Sun of Truth dawned upon that land, Israel progressed day by day, gained honor and found comfort, to such a degree that they became the envy of others.

This land is Palestine. It is a Holy Land. Soon the Jewish people shall return to this land, and once more David's sovereignty and Solomon's splendor shall be made manifest. This is an explicit divine promise, and there is no doubt therein. The Jewish people will be made resplendent. They will gather under the banner of the Cause.

The sovereignty of David and the splendor of Solomon will once more be manifested.

The Jews are unpopular now, but they will progress, and they will come here to reside. In the Books of the Prophets this promise has been given and in the Tablets of the Blessed Beauty for the Jews of Persia, He has written that the promises which have been given to you, 'that you will be gathered together', will be fulfilled. Forty years ago He wrote this. Many of the Jews of Persia have become Baha'is and blessed souls have entered the Cause."

He said: "In their heavenly books the prophets have spoken of the Day of the Lord, the Last Day, and what they have spoken is all being realized in this day. The Blessed Beauty sixty years ago in some of his tablets promised the Jews that they would come back to the Holy Land and what he said will be realized.

The day and age promised by the divine Prophets has appeared. This is the day in which Zion dances with joy. The day has come in which Carmel is revived and is rejoicing. That day has come for you to return to Palestine and see how it is flourishing.

Question: Are the "lost tribes" of the House of Israel now identified as the different nations of the earth?

Answer: No, they are scattered throughout all the world, among the nations, and mingled with them.

Abdu'l-Baha said that most of the Persians Jews had become believers, - as many as 4000 Jews out of 5000 in one city being of our Faith, - and in a short time all the Persian Jews would be believers.

The majority of the Jews in Persia, however, have accepted the teaching of the Blessed Perfection.

It is the destiny of the Jewish people to embrace the Cause - a fact of which there is no doubt.

Perchance it is because of this that Jewish people will embrace the Cause, since there is no other course left to them.

Praise be to God that in this Most Great Cycle the glance of grace encompasses Israel so that all the promises of the Prophets regarding them may be fulfilled in the world of existence and witness.

… Therefore my hope is firm that the friends of Israel will render a notable service at this time to the Glorious Lord and become the cause of increased joy and delight to His Holiness Abraham, the Friend, in the exalted Kingdom.

This is the gift of God, this is the grace of the All-Merciful, this is the divine promise to His Holiness Abraham, peace be upon him. Truly you are descendants of that illustrious personage and progeny of that beautiful master.

In this glorious Dispensation, the children of Abraham have attained to firm faith, steadfast conviction and mighty, intense assurance - they have become the pride of Israel and the glory of the party of the Glorious Lord.

O gathering of the beloved ones! Praise be to God that you are shining lamps in the sanctuary of Israel and have learned lessons of inner meanings and truth in the school of Abraham. You are the living cypress in the garden of the hopes of the ancients and the smiling rosebud in the avenue of the desires of those great ones.

O family of the love of God! Read the Book of Isaiah - there is glad tidings for you there. I hope that glad tidings will be fully realized and aspirations will be achieved as they should be, so that you may become like laughing hundred-petaled fragrant roses blooming in the garden of Israel and illuminate the world of Israel.

When he observed that the Israelites were overthrown, conquered, and detested, and afflicted with every ailment and disease in this abode of deception, he therefore saw the healing of those maladies in the Great Glad-Tidings and gave the good news of the appearance of the Kingdom.

We hope through divine confirmations that you will awaken Israel and make the people of the Lord of Hosts mindful, and guide all to holy Zion and lead them to the Tent of Testimony.

Mayest thou make the faces of the Israelites radiant and show forth the character of the former Prophets. Mayest thou spread abroad the sweet fragrance of Abraham's rose garden and make prosperous the dwelling place of the ancient divines.

I beseech God that you may be a lamp of guidance among the descendants of His Glorious Holiness, that is, Israel, and a banner of the Most Glorious Kingdom.

Your journey is of great importance, much like the journeys of Isaiah. The Prophet Isaiah traveled throughout the length and breadth of the Holy Land and bestowed a new vitality to the Israelites.

Behold when the Messiah shall come, signs and wonders shall testify that He is in truth the Christ. We know the signs and conditions, and they have not appeared. The Messiah will arise out of an unknown city. He shall sit upon the throne of David, and behold, He shall come with a sword of steel, and with a sceptre of iron shall He rule! He shall fulfil the law of the Prophets, He shall conquer the East and the West, and shall glorify His chosen people the Jews. He shall bring with Him a reign of peace, during which even the animals shall cease to be at enmity with man.

Catalogue reference: ABU0473 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.