Videos by Sivan Lerer
A short interview introducing the Baha'i Faith to Israeli audience (in Hebrew), 24.08.2022. We ta... more A short interview introducing the Baha'i Faith to Israeli audience (in Hebrew), 24.08.2022. We talked about Baha'i holy places, the importance of education, and inter-religious tolerance.
Available at: https://www.knesset.tv/tv-shows/world-game/video/43272/ 36 views
Thesis Chapters by Sivan Lerer
PhD abstract. Doctoral thesis submitted to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, written under the ... more PhD abstract. Doctoral thesis submitted to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, written under the supervision of Prof. Moshe Sharon.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
The Baha'i Faith emerged and developed in 19th century Iran, a period of major political and reli... more The Baha'i Faith emerged and developed in 19th century Iran, a period of major political and religious turbulences. Even before declaring himself the harbinger of a new divine revelation, Baha' Allah demonstrated both interest in and knowledge of various religious themes, including mysticism. This is prominent in his early writings (1853-1863), and especially so in the two tablets analyzed in this work: The Seven Valleys and The four valleys. Baha' Allah uses a known genre in Sufi literature, which describes the mystical process as a journey consisting of various stages that a mystic must pass in order to achieve his goal - unity with God. However, Baha' Allah is not limited by the Sufi tradition; he uses it to present his religious innovations, while creating a dialogue with classic Sufi tradition. The seven valleys, which clearly relates to Farid al-Din `Attar's Mantiq al-tayr, describes the seven stages which the mystic wayfarer crosses in his journey in search for God. These stages (the valleys) represent various obstacles or spiritual stations that must be overcome in order to proceed and advance in the mystical path. The four valleys also describes a mystical journey, but one less detailed and developed than that described in The seven valleys. The four valleys describes the different groups of mystic wanderers and what makes each unique. Although both tablets are distinctly individual texts that can each be read independently, the connection between them best represents Bah'a Allah's state of mind at the time when they were composed. Furthermore, they represent Baha' Allah's theoretical and ideological developments, in their very early stages.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Conference Presentations by Sivan Lerer
At the 47 MEISAI conference, 2024
The Bahā’ī Faith arrived at the Holy Land more than 50 years before the establishment of the Stat... more The Bahā’ī Faith arrived at the Holy Land more than 50 years before the establishment of the State of Israel, and the cities of Haifa and 'Akka became the Faith’s holy cities. The Bahā’ī Gardens and monuments in these cities are well known in Israeli landscape and in the public eye, with UNESCO’s recognition of them as “World Heritage Site” cementing them as national assets. This paper examines the presence of the Bahā’ī Faith in Hebrew literature throughout different periods and genres, and reviews this presence in relation to literary representations of other religions and minorities in Israel.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
At the 45 MEISAI conference, 2022
The city of Acre is a holy city in the Baha'i religion: it is where the founder of the Baha'i rel... more The city of Acre is a holy city in the Baha'i religion: it is where the founder of the Baha'i religion is buried, the direction of prayer, and the focus of pilgrimage, but this elevated status was not always the city's share. Initially, Acre was known in the Bahá'í writings as "the greatest prison" and was described in all its misery. Over time, Acre's position in the Bahá'í perception improved and many crowns of glory and greatness were attached to it. The paper deals with the transformation process that Acre underwent in the Bahá'í tradition from a neglected and rejected prison city into a holy city which became - with the arrival of Bahá'u'lláh - a center of holiness and the fulfillment of religious and messianic expectations.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
At the Shaykhi and Babi-Baha’i Studies Oxford Seminar December , 2020
In Muslim thought and philosophy, the basmala – the formula opening almost all Suras of the Qurʾa... more In Muslim thought and philosophy, the basmala – the formula opening almost all Suras of the Qurʾan and many other writings – holds unrivaled importance. It has gained a metaphysical and mystical reputation that granted it an almost venerated status. The importance of the basmala was not overlooked in the Bahaʾi faith, as can be seen from various writings aiming to elucidate it and decipher its hidden meaning. One such composition is ʿAbdul Bahaʾ’s “Commentary on the basmala” (Tafsir bism Allah al-raḥman al-raḥim). This paper aims to map out the main exegetical points made by ʿAbdul Bahaʾ, his unique interpretation of this formula, and the possible echoes of other Abrahamic religions.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
At Irfan Colloquium #138, 2016
The andarz literature is a type of wisdom literature which was used in Iran since before the Isla... more The andarz literature is a type of wisdom literature which was used in Iran since before the Islamic conquest. Its traces can be found in prominent Iranian works, for example, the Shāh nāma, as well as in the more distant Arabic literature. This paper examines the various types of andarz literature throughout the ages, from its early beginnings to Islamic times, and analyses The Hidden Words of Baha’ Allah as a possible continuation of this literary tradition.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
At Irfan Colloquium #134 , 2015
Baha' Allah's tablet to Nasir al-Din Shah, the fourth ruler of the Qajar dynasty, is the longest ... more Baha' Allah's tablet to Nasir al-Din Shah, the fourth ruler of the Qajar dynasty, is the longest among Baha' Allah's tablets to the kings and rulers. It was composed in Edirne but revealed to the public during Baha' Allah's stay in Akko, in 1869.
This paper examines both the historical references given by Baha' Allah (for example, the mention of Shaykh Ansari), and the cultural and religious motifs. In many instances, the historical and the religious motifs are interconnected, and need to be approached as a whole. The paper also discusses some of the tablet's themes, such as the role of the monarch in Baha' Allah's worldview and the treatment of minority groups in society, in light of the special relation between Nasir al-Din Shah and the Babi-Bahai religion.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Papers by Sivan Lerer
האסלאם: היסטוריה, דת, תרבות, 2017
A very short introduction to the Babi and Baha'i religions. In: Islam : history, religion, cultur... more A very short introduction to the Babi and Baha'i religions. In: Islam : history, religion, culture. Edited by Meir M. Bar-Asher and Meir Hatina. Jerusalem 2017, pp. 673-681 (in Hebrew).
פרק בספר האסלאם: היסטוריה, דת, תרבות. בעריכת מאיר מ' בר-אשר ומאיר חטינה. .ירושלים: מאגנס, תשע"ח, עמ' 673–681
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Teaching Documents by Sivan Lerer
BA seminar for the Chair in Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2023
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Syllabus of the course "Certitude and Conviction in the Baha'i Faith: Reading the Kitab-Iqan
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Syllabus for the academic course "Introduction to the Bahai Faith".
The Hebrew University of Jer... more Syllabus for the academic course "Introduction to the Bahai Faith".
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2021
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Videos by Sivan Lerer
A short interview (in Hebrew) about the Baha'i Faith, following Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohamma... more A short interview (in Hebrew) about the Baha'i Faith, following Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi's declaration and hunger strike.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
A short interview following Narges Mohammadi's hunger strike to draw attention to the sufferings ... more A short interview following Narges Mohammadi's hunger strike to draw attention to the sufferings of the Baha'i community in Iran. Relevant TV channel, 11.12.2023
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Outreach by Sivan Lerer
Talks by Sivan Lerer
Wikimedia Education Newsletter, 2016
An English translation of an interview for Israel Wikimedia Outreach, about the challenges and be... more An English translation of an interview for Israel Wikimedia Outreach, about the challenges and benefits of writing Wikipedia articles as academic assignment.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Uploads
Videos by Sivan Lerer
Available at: https://www.knesset.tv/tv-shows/world-game/video/43272/
Thesis Chapters by Sivan Lerer
Conference Presentations by Sivan Lerer
This paper examines both the historical references given by Baha' Allah (for example, the mention of Shaykh Ansari), and the cultural and religious motifs. In many instances, the historical and the religious motifs are interconnected, and need to be approached as a whole. The paper also discusses some of the tablet's themes, such as the role of the monarch in Baha' Allah's worldview and the treatment of minority groups in society, in light of the special relation between Nasir al-Din Shah and the Babi-Bahai religion.
Papers by Sivan Lerer
פרק בספר האסלאם: היסטוריה, דת, תרבות. בעריכת מאיר מ' בר-אשר ומאיר חטינה. .ירושלים: מאגנס, תשע"ח, עמ' 673–681
Teaching Documents by Sivan Lerer
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2021
Videos by Sivan Lerer
Outreach by Sivan Lerer
Talks by Sivan Lerer
Available at: https://www.knesset.tv/tv-shows/world-game/video/43272/
This paper examines both the historical references given by Baha' Allah (for example, the mention of Shaykh Ansari), and the cultural and religious motifs. In many instances, the historical and the religious motifs are interconnected, and need to be approached as a whole. The paper also discusses some of the tablet's themes, such as the role of the monarch in Baha' Allah's worldview and the treatment of minority groups in society, in light of the special relation between Nasir al-Din Shah and the Babi-Bahai religion.
פרק בספר האסלאם: היסטוריה, דת, תרבות. בעריכת מאיר מ' בר-אשר ומאיר חטינה. .ירושלים: מאגנס, תשע"ח, עמ' 673–681
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2021