Saturday, April 04, 2009

WORLD HERITAGE

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to:
encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage;
encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List;
encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting
systems on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites;
help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training;
provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger;
support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation;
encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage;
encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage.






The Administrative part of the Baha'i World Center, located at Mt. Carmel, Haifa Israel.


The World Heritage List includes 878 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.
These include 679 cultural , 174 natural and 25 mixed properties in 145
States Parties. As of April 2009, 186 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.

Yesterday,03 April 2009, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization( UNESCO) announced to the world that the Bahai Wold Center have been recognized for their outstanding value to humanity as a whole. The Baha'i properties particularly the Shrines sorrounded with beautifull gardens opened to the public, to the citizens of Israel, tourists and pilgrims from different cities, countries with different religious background, Muslims, Jews, Christians and Bahai'i's came together in one goal to witness and enjoy the beauty of the Baha'i Sacred Places.

THE LIST BELOW ARE THE SITES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FROM 2001-2008
Masada
Old City of Acre
White City of Tel-Aviv -- the Modern Movement
Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba
Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev
Bahá’i Holy Places in Haifa and the Western Galilee




Baha'i Holy Places in Haifa



10,000 people came & enjoy the natural and spiritual beauty of the Baha'i gardens.



Exhibition of the World Heritage site.

Baha'i Holy Places in Akka

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Naw-Ruz

The Angels of...Fashion may be. Hahahaahahha





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Hillel's Angel



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Hillel Agent on Action



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The Philippine Study Group




The Gwapings 2009








Monday, March 16, 2009

THE FAST

Fasting is the cause of awakening man. The hearth becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases. This is produced by the fact that man's thoughts will be confined to the commemoration of God, and through this awakening and stimulation surely ideal advancements follow...The material fasting is abstaining from food or drink, that is, that man abstain from appetites of the body. But spiritual, ideal fasting is this, that man abstain from selfish passions, from negligence and from satanic animal traits...
- The Baha'i Teaching -




DINNER(L-R) Mesbar, Arman(AUSTRALIA), Austin Guy (FIJI), Zainab, Claire(NEW ZEALAND), Sahar(U.S.A.)


Monday night , my friend Arman from Australia invited his friends to come over to break the fast together. As usual routine during the fast, people ate first then say their prayer afterwards or the other way around.And this time each of us (above photo) say prayer first before we eat. These people, i considered them as my friends, as the saying goes "Your friend/s is my friend/s.)


(L-R)- Zainab, Claire, Sahar

Zainab, Claire, Sahar


Mesbar & Arman
BREAKFAST
This is kind of memories for me, this occasion bring us together,unify us no matter how sleepy we are in the morning we still manage to get up and eat together. Coz during the usual day, we haven't eat together due to our working time schedule.
MY FLATEMATES
(Luis, Arman, Austin Guy)


ARMAN MEHRABKHANI


LUIS DECHTIAR






Sunday, March 15, 2009

STAFF VISIT 3

HOUSE OF ABBUD- One of the Holy place for the Baha'is all over the world. This Place where the Founder of the Baha'i faith (Baha'u'llah) lived for nearly seven years during His incarceration in 'Akká, and in which the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was revealed, has been extensively renovated and restored. Place where "The Master" Abdul-Baha married to beloved Munirih " The Illunined One" in 1972.
In this place also where Baha'u'llah revealed a Tablet on February 15, 1917, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the eleven Western States of the United States: New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada,California, Wyoming, Utah, Montana,Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
And on February 21, 1917 a Tablet was revealed and addressed to the Baha'is of Canada and Greenland.



Outer view of the House Of Abbud


Courtyard of the House































Saturday, January 31, 2009

Staff Visit 2

Yesterday(30-01-19) was my second staff visit for this year to one of the Holy Places ( House of Adullah Pasha )for the Baha'is.

In this place where the child named Shoghi was born who was ordained to hold the destiny of the Faith in his hands for 36 years and to become its beloved Guardian. It was to this house that the historic first group of pilgrims from the West came to see the Master in winter of 1898-1899.




The Outer View of the House





Inner Courtyard of the House


Stairway from the inner court to the North Complex room of the House




Reception Room






Stairway from innercourt to the South complex room of the House






Friday, January 23, 2009

My FRIENDS VISIT


January 10, 9:00 PM. Jon and Jamshid Aflaooni arrived from U.S to Haifa for 3 days visit. Exactly 11 months since the last time we met in Turkey on February 2008.
Since they arrived on that night we started hanging out until 1:30 AM and the latest was 2:30 AM and get up at 10:00 AM. I let them visit their friends that are still serving at the World Center and friends that they already know back home that are now serving at the BAHA’I WORLD CENTER, while i'm preparing their food for dinner.
Also Paul and Ali Javid ,their cousin who came for 9 days pilgrimage, and that's the reason why Jon and Jamshid came to Holy land to join them for last 3 days of their pilgrimage.
Second day, Jon and I went to the Arc to show some development of the area that I’m responsible with and to the area that he were responsible with for over 2 years as a leader of one of the gardens crew, then after lunch we went to Akká, then to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh afterwards.
Third day, it’s a rest day, but Jon and Jamy continuing their schedule, they went to Akká and Bahji.
Fourth Day, their last day of visit, the day when Ali and Paul join them including me to go to Bahji and walked around the gardens for their last time, who knows when this going to happen again.
All of us went to Tel-Aviv, spent time together, hanging out along the beach, eating, and dancing on the street every time we hear music specially Paul, showing us his hip-hop moves, and I really enjoyed the company of this two strange brother.
Ali and Paul Depart Israel the next day at 6:00AM.So we stay late ‘till 3:00AM and take them to the Airport. Then the following day, Jon and Jamy time to say goodbye to these special friends of mine and go back to their home sweet home.




Indoor Garden's Tour

Jon, Me, and Jamshid, their second day.



AKKO TOUR
Spending time in TEL-AVIV




ALADIN Restaurant in TEL-AVIV


Last Day in Tel-Aviv, along the beach




Departure day, going back to U.S.




Jonathan Aflatooni, my best friend. We served together in the Garden at the Baha'i world Center, and we live at the same flat for over 2 years.
Jamshid aflatooni, a man who loves eating, and bit the person that smaller than him. I first met him 3 years ago during his pilgrimage with his family.
Paul Javid, loves dancing as long as his body moves synchronized with the beat. A very friendly and happy person.

Ali Javid, loves his iPhone, surfing things like face book, map, travel, etc, while his walking ,talking, and eating.He used to serve in Security at the Baha'i World Center, 4 years ago.