Borrah Kavelin

H. Borrah Kavelin (March 16, 1906 – 1988) served as a member of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Bahá'í Faith, between 1963 and 1988.

Mr. Kavelin was born in Russia to a distinguished Jewish family. When he was three years old, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Denver, Colorado. His love of music drew him to New York City, where his debut as an operatic tenor occurred on the stage of Carnegie Hall. During the Great Depression he was forced to leave his musical career and became secretary to the director of a real estate firm. His ability and diligence were soon recognized. He became a partner in the firm, and later became executive vice president and partner of the distinguished realty firm Durand Taylor and Company for 20 years.

From 1941 to 1950, Mr. Kavelin served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of New York City. In 1950 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, where he served for 13 years. In 1961 he was part of the International Bahá'í Council until his election to the Universal House of Justice in 1963.