In 1909 Ethel Rosenberg made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
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When in Bahá'í history
'Akká (today: Acre, Israel)
In 1909 Ethel Rosenberg made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Although He was free, the Master had not yet left ‘Akka to live in Haifa. Ethel asked Him what the friends could do to increase their numbers and to make their work more effective. He answered that ‘the members of the little groups should love each other very much and be devoted friends. The more they loved each other, the more the meetings would attract and draw others, and the more they loved, the more their influence would be felt . . . I say also in English, that you may understand how much I mean it, that love is the foundation of everything . . .’
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 102
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: love).
Discuss this story
For adults
- Where do you see devotion appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
- How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of love?
- Read the closing lines once more. What single phrase stays with you?
For teens
- What is one quality you'd want to carry forward from this account?
- Which line in this story surprised you the most?
Reflection
- Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?
- Sit quietly for a moment after reading. What does this story stir in you?
- If you could bring one quality from this story into your next conversation, what would it be?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "In 1909 Ethel Rosenberg made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land" drawn from?
Where does this story take place?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/love
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