Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
9 October 2020
14 Mashíyyat 177 B.E.
GC-35183
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Dearly loved Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to share with you the following letter from the Department of the Secretariat received today, concerning the continuing suspension of pilgrimage and brief visits to the Holy Land. The letter is available here as a PDF.
The National Assembly lovingly remembers all of the friends whose plans to go on pilgrimage or make a brief visit to pray in the Holy Shrines have been affected by the current health crisis, and will pray that the opportunity to fulfil this sacred task will soon be restored.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT
8 October 2020
To all National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Further to the letter dated 12 March 2020 written to you on behalf of the Universal House of Justice regarding the suspension of pilgrimage and brief visits, the House of Justice has asked us to convey to you the following information.
In the intervening months since this decision was communicated to you, little has changed to make it possible for friends to visit the Holy Land. The coronavirus pandemic continues to grow worldwide; government restrictions on movement and travel change constantly; flights are rescheduled or cancelled at short notice; in many countries, including Israel, quarantine requirements are in place and can change from day to day; hotels decline bookings by people from countries they perceive to have high infection rates; and social distancing regulations make it difficult to organize group activities and gatherings.
Regrettably, as a consequence of the uncertainties outlined above, which render it very difficult for pilgrims to make plans without undue risk of disruption or financial loss, it has become necessary to extend the suspension of nine-day pilgrimage until the start of the 2021–2022 season in October 2021. Should circumstances make it possible at any point before that to allow brief visits to resume, you will be informed.
The House of Justice is aware that the believers will share its disappointment but fervently hopes that they can be welcomed to the Holy Land in the not too distant future.
Kindly assure the friends in your communities that the House of Justice will offer prayers in the Holy Shrines that they may be surrounded by the tender mercies of Bahá’u’lláh and protected under His sheltering wing.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
