On November 28, 1921, the head of the Bahá’í Faith, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, passed away. For Bahá’ís, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was more than the leader of their religion. Shoghi Effendi wrote that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was “the Moon of the Central Orb of this most holy Dispensation” (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 134). The night of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ascension was a night of the waning moon, which illustrates the profound darkness that was felt by those who were present at the time of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The darkness would be only temporary, for the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá marked the dramatic opening of the Formative Age, a period in the history of humanity that will witness the unfoldment of a religious cycle that will last half a million years (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 101–102).
There were six Western believers in Haifa on the night of the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Mr. John Bosch and Mrs. Louise Stapfer Bosch from Geyserville, California; Dr. Florian Krug and Mrs. Grace Krug from New York, and Fraulein Johanna Hauff from Stuttgart. All of them were there as pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. The only other Western believer present in Haifa was Mr. Curtis Kelsey from New York, who was in Haifa to install electrical power plants to light the shrines of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. This book tells the story of these believers, how they became Bahá’ís, the circumstances that led them to Haifa, and how their experience at the time of the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá shaped their path of service to the Cause. The intent is to give the reader the feeling of being in the holy land, one hundred years ago, when the moon of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá set over Haifa.
When the Moon Set Over Haifa
Travel back in time one hundred years with the author of “When the Moon Set Over Haifa,” to what was then Haifa, Palestine. Abdu’l-Baha, known as the “Center of the Covenant,” the Perfect Exemplar of the Baha’i teachings was a resident there. He had completed his travels to promote his Father Baha’u’llah’s, precepts in the United States and Europe in 1912-1913. Baha’u’llah was considered the “Sun” while Abdu’l-Baha was the “Moon” of His revelation. To the people in Haifa, he was known as a friend to the poor, as a counselor, adviser, helper, a wise and venerable sage. In 1921 six western Baha’is were present when Abdu’’l-Baha passed away on an unusual moonless night. Were they there due to happenstance or was this part of some divine plan? Actually, all had been invited by Abdu’l-Baha himself. After the initial shock, each of them arose to fulfill their particular mission. This most timely and uplifting book awaits the reader who will feel that he, too, was present.
When the Moon Set Over Haifa
I read Angelina DiLiberto Allen's moving historical account of the lives of the Westerners who were on pilgrimage at the time of 'Abdu'l-Baha's passing, *When the Moon Set Over Haifa*, last month and was very moved. She has such a smooth style that you are barely aware of how much she's giving you of this momentous time in history. Her insights are unfailingly on-point, and her ability to portray historical figures as real, lively, spiritual human beings with goals, questions, problems and triumphs is priceless. This book is full of precious tidbits of information as well as it is a documentary of an historical event. And, for those of you who are a bit emotional, do have some tissues ready. I used quite a few.
When the Moon Set Over Haifa
Angelina Diliberto Allen has brilliantly woven together the lives and events of the Western Baha'is who were present 100 years ago at the Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha.