Chair for Baha'i Studies
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

30 March 1999

Dear Baha'i friends

We have just received the following exciting news from the Universal House of Justice and we are happy to share it with you.

With loving Baha'i greetings

--Barney Leith
Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly
of the Baha'is of United Kingdom

29 March 1999

To National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Baha'i Friends,

We are happy to announce that documents were signed today establishing a Chair for Baha'i 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 Baha'i 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 Baha'i Faith, on a regular basis, at the Institute of Asian and African Studies in the Faculty of Humanities of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. As 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 Baha'i greetings,

[SIGNED: THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE]

©Copyright 1999, The Universal House of Justice