The shrine of Bahji In Haifa, Israel Park Ridge resident Judi Jennrich in front of the mansion of Bahji.

Pilgrimage of Baha'i

Park Ridge Resident Takes Two Week Journey To Haifa, Israel, World Center Of The Baha'i Faith

(Ed. Note: Longtime Park Ridge resident Judi Jennrich recently returned from a two week visit to Israel on a pilgrimage. She did not go to the usual sites but to the northern coast city of Haifa and the world center of the Baha'i Faith.)

The Holy Land is usually known to be the center of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. What's less known is that it is also the home of a fourth global religion, the Baha'i Faith.

I have been a member of the Baha'i Faith since high school and a member of the Baha'i community of Park Ridge for over 20 years. During my visit in the Holy Land, I was based in Haifa and visited the Baha'i holy places. These are in Haifa, on the biblical Mt Carmel, and in the historic town of Acre.

This area is holy to Baha'is because Bahaíuíllah, the founder of the Baha'i religion, was exiled there during the 19th century, and was kept a prisoner because of His teaching of religious unity and social reform. At that time, Acre was a filthy, desolate penal colony and was a remote outpost of the Turkish Empire used for holding political and other prisoners.

Bahaiuillah passed away in 1892 and his shrine, now surrounded by extensive gardens, is a place revered and visited by Baha'is from all parts of the world. This and other shrines and gardens of the Baha'i Faith are also much visited by both local followers and from people all around the world who come in search of peace and beauty.

In the last few years the site in Haifa on Mount Carmel, a beautiful Mediterranean city, has been extensively developed and now extends from the top to the bottom of the mountain. Because of its appearance and impressive nature, Israelis often refer to it as "the hanging gardens" and "the eighth wonder of the world".

The gardens scale the north face of the Mount Carmel, in a series of 19 marble terraces separated by vines, flowers, beautifully manicured lawns, wrought iron gates and marble statuary.

Sharing the pilgrimage with me were fellow Baha'is from the U.S., Canada, North and South America, Africa, Europe, England and Australia. Now sharing a common faith, they came from Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist and no particular religious backgrounds. In an age when society seems so often fragmented and divided against itself, I was able to share a vision of the future in which all nations and creeds would be united as the citizens of one world and the adherents of one faith.

For more information contact the Baha'is in Park Ridge at 847-795-0882.