It is a well known fact that according to a letter of Universal House of Justice1 the Baha'i s are not suppose to teach and convert the Jew population in Israel. Infact if a Jew outside Israel wants to accept Baha’i Faith and settle in Israel, then his declaration card is not to be accepted
(1)For your information, the people in Israel have access to factual information about the Faith, its history and general principles. Books concerning the Faith are available in libraries throughout Israel, and Israelis are welcome to visit the Shrines and the surrounding gardens. However, in keeping with a policy that has been strictly followed since the days of Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'ís do not teach the Faith in Israel. Likewise, the Faith is not taught to Israelis abroad if they intend to return to Israel. When Israelis ask about the Faith, their questions are answered, but this is done in a manner which provides factual information without stimulating further interest.
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| Universal House of Justice, Israel |
But The world Christian encyclopedia (WCE)2 has something else to offer.
1-In the year 1990, the number of Baha’is residing in Israel were 9500.The source of the information was Barrett, David B. World Christian Encyclopedia (2001),
Data transcribed by Simeon Kohlman Rabbani
2-In the year 2000, the Baha’i population in Israel was 13734 which constituted 0.22% of the total population of Israel, again the source of this information was David B. World Christian Encyclopedia (2001),
Data transcribed by Simeon Kohlman Rabbani
(2) World Christian Database (WCD) – Updated and maintained by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, the World Christian Database is based on information provided by the World Christian Encyclopedia and World Christian Trends. Both of these books serve as standards for international religious statistics, and provide comprehensive estimates of religious affiliation around the world.
ACTUAL BAHAIS IN ISRAEL
The Baha’i administration claims there is no resident Baha'i population in Israel. The 650-700 Baha'is who can be found here at any given time are all volunteers who have come from some 85 countries to do service for periods ranging from a few months to a few years. The Baha'is who live here as tourists or temporary residents do not engage in any form of missionary activity. Some people erroneously believe that this is in accordance with the country's anti-missionary laws, but in fact it is a self-imposed Baha'i prohibition against seeking or accepting new believers into the Baha'i faith in the Holy Land that dates back to the time when the country was still under Ottoman rule. No one knows why. It is one of several inexplicable Baha'i regulations.
So one can see the Exaggeration from 600-650 to 9500 -13734
The number of Bahais in Israel was provided by Simeon Kohlman Rabbani who is a Bahai. Therfore in case of Israel the double policy of Universal House of Justice is evident.The official figure of 600-650 is for the Officials of the Israel Government and 9500 -13734 is for public consumption to show the non-existing acceptibilty of Bahai Faith
Charles