The prophet Elijah's presence still lingers over Haifa, and particularly on Mt.Carmel, Several thousand years ago, Mt. Carmel was just a high place that overlooked the Mediterranean Sea. It became famous in the Hebrew scriptures as the place where Elijah had his dramatic showdown with the followers of Baal (I Kings 18:21) Just below Mt.Carmel is the cave where tradition says Elijah lived. Today it is a Jewish devotional space dedicated to Elijah.
As we entered, we saw that the cave was divided into two sections; women went left and men went right. Around the cave where displays of Hebrew texts that I could not read. At the back of the cave, covered by a large red velvet curtain, was the "holy of holies," where Elijah may have slept, or meditated. What unique about this place was how simple it was; there were no giant basilicas built over this spot; instead, the rough walls and simple display seemed in keeping with the spirit of Elijah; a rough-hewn and plainspoken prophet.
As we walked down the hill from Elijah's mountain, we read aloud some of the more dramatic episodes of Elijah's career; his triumph over the prophets of Baal; his infamous quarrels with Jezebel and his near death experiences (literally!) when his own people rebelled against him. And yet, what he is best remembered for is the passage describing his encounters not with the wind, or the fire, or an earthquake even, but the still, small voice that spoke to him and asked "what are you doing here, Elijah?" Standing in Elijah's cave--peering out into the growing darkness , I could almost imagine the lonely prophet asking me the same question: "What are you doing here, Kathleen?"
"Finding you, Elijah." I would have replied, and so I did.
Location:Haifa, Israel
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