Of all the places we visited in Israel, to me, Mount Carmel, was the most beautiful! So much has gone on here, I hardly know where to start!

Mount Carmel, (which means mountain of gardens) is mentioned as a “holy mountain,” in Egyptian records from the 16th century BCE. As a “high place,” it had long been the center of idol worship.

I’ll start with the Christian stories and make my way from there!

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess, the daughter of Ithobaal I, King of Tyre. She married King Ahab. Her coronation as queen upset the balance of power between Yahwism ( the religion of ancient Israel) and Baalism (those who worshipped the many gods of Baal) Jezebel used her power and influence to support Baal’s cult and eliminate rivals in brutal ways. Along comes Elijah and says  basically, “make it not so.” Elijah challenges Jezebel to send 450 of her best prophets to Mount Carmel to prove which god, Yahweh or Baal, would burn a bull sacrifice on an altar, when called upon to do so. Whichever god answered the call, would rule the Kingdom of Israel. The prophets of Baal tried for a day and night, and despite their cries and cutting themselves, Baal did not light the fire. Elijah succeeded, when he summoned Yahweh, and he very much impressed the Israelites. He then ordered his men, which he had been hiding in a cave on Mt Carmel, to seize and kill all the prophets of Baal. Jezebel swore to kill Elijah, even calling for divine judgement upon herself if she failed. Elijah then fled to the wilderness!

What happened to Jezebel? Three years later and after Ahab was dead, an army rose up against Jezebel. Jezebel put on a wig with adornments and looked out the window to taunt the coming army. Some say she was giving the public appearance of a queen mother invested with authority of a royal house and others said she showed acts of seduction. Hence, why some women are known as Jezebels and in some religious circles, make-up and fine clothing is seen as sexually promiscuous or seen as a controlling woman……..

The leader of the army demanded Jezebel to be thrown out of her window. She landed on a horse and was killed and then was eaten by dogs, as Elijah had predicted would happen to her…………You can find this story in I Kings:18.

What has all this to do with Mount Carmel today?

Today, the Stella Maris Catholic Monastery for monks, is located on the slopes of Mount Carmel and is said to contain the Cave of Elijah, a grotto where the Prophet Elijah lived. The altar stands on an elevated platform situated above the cave. The cave can be reached from the nave by descending a few steps. Above the cave and altar is a statue of  the Virgin Mary, carrying Jesus in her lap and holding a Scapular, pieces of brown cloth, in her right hand ( originally a scapular was a practical type of work apron used by the monks, consisting of large pieces of cloth, front and back, joined over the shoulders with strips of cloth.  Carmelites are known for their brown habits. This statue is known as Our Lady of the Scapular and is the patroness of the Carmelites. Not only, am I now interested in caves, but I found myself studying the wardrobe of many of the folks in Israel. More, on that in another post.

So, here is Stella Maris, which translates, ” Our Lady, Star of the Sea.” You are welcome, but No shorts, No drinks or food, No talking on cellphones, No guns, No smoking and Be Sure to be Quiet.

A little garden………

A building in the shape of the cross.

And no going in, as it was Sunday, during Mass. But, as you can see, from the photo we took as we peeped in quietly, there is the grotto under the altar and the altar above has the Scapular of the Virgin Mary. Not all was lost. I wish we could have stayed for Mass, but moving on……….

Look at this garden! You just can’t imagine how high it goes up on that mountain and the photos do not do it justice! This is the Baha’i Gardens and Shrine, on Mount Carmel. There are 1700 steps from the bottom to the top!

Who made this garden?

The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions, originating in Iran in 1844. It has seven million believers worldwide, who come from every cultural, racial, social and religious background on earth. It is also believed to be the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran. The Bahá’í followed Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi, who revealed himself as the prophet Báb (meaning gate) Shia clergy, despite the fact that he gained thousands of followers, executed Báb six years after he began his movement and his followers were banned in Iran. Bahá’í have been accused by successive Iranian regimes as being agents or spies of Russia, Britain, the Shah, the United States and agents of Zionism.  Persecution and imprisonment forced the Bahá’í to take the remains of the Báb, secretly to Haifa in 1909, and choose this spot, when it was offered to them, for the Báb’s burial place.

The Bahá’í are persecuted throughout the Middle East, but Israel offered them a safe haven to build the beautiful World Center here. The gardens are designed after the gardens of ancient Persia and are one of two places considered for pilgrimages, which is the tenet of their faith. The Bahá’í Gardens is the most distinct tourist attraction in all of Haifa and the most visited. This is the most holy site of the Bahá’i faith and the temple (the Golden Dome) is not open to the public, but the gardens are spectacular!

Today,  the Bahá’í, make up the fourth largest and latest monotheistic religion. Each Báha’í follower is required to make at least one pilgrimage to the holy sites, in Haifa or Acre, another city close to Haifa, in Israel. They pray and are buried, facing Israel’s western Galilee, but there are no houses of worship in Israel. What an unexpected turn of events! But, I can’t help, but feel, that niggle of my Christian faith asking me, if Báha’í sounds like Baal to me!

Now, a look up the mountain at the Bahá’í Gardens.

Let’s take a look up those stairs leading to the top! No way, I’m climbing it! I’ll meet you up there!

Here we are at the Gate at the top! What a view of Haifa!

Is that a fake bird?????? It looks really large!

I think the most important thing for me to learn about Israel was about the multitude of different people and religions that reside here. Israel is not all about the Jews. And Mount Carmel offered some of the most expensive and exclusive homes I saw while in Israel. It is simply beautiful!

See you next time in Caesarea National Park! Cady

PS I am also posting this to Jo’s Monday Walk. This walk would be great for anyone, who can still climb 1700 steps!