Other Baha'i buildings are scattered around the grounds, but are not open to the
public. To the right of the shrine (as you face the port), the International Baha'i
Archives Building houses Baha'i relics and historical materials. Farther right, the
marble Universal House of Justice is the center of international Baha'i operations.
MONASTERY OF THE CARMELITE ORDER. A Latin monk named Berthold
founded the Carmelite order in 1156, but the Sultan Baybars destroyed the monas-
tery in 1291. Originally built because the monks were not allowed to live in Elijah's
Cave, the beautiful monastery, which stands on a promontory over Haifa bay,
seems a more than reasonable replacement. The monks currently live in a rela-
tively new church and monastery complex called Stella Maris (Star of the Sea),
built in 1836 on the ruins of an ancient Byzantine chapel and a medieval Greek
church. The inside of the chapel is crafted from marble, and its dome is crowned
by paintings of Elijah flying heavenward in a chariot of fire, King David plucking a
harp, the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, and scenes of the Holy Family. The
exquisite statue of the Virgin Mary cradling the baby Jesus stands above a small
cave where tradition says that Elijah's midsummer prayer for rain was answered.
The monastery's small museum contains finds from the Byzantine and Crusader
settlements on Mt. Carmel, including toes from a large statue of Jupiter that once
stood on an altar on the mount. Because of the Carmelites' affinity for Elijah (St.
Elias), the Feast of St. Elias (July 20) is a great time to visit. In the days preceding
the Feast, Christian Arabs set up booths with food and games, and a carnival atmo-
sphere takes over the complex. Knees and shoulders must be covered. (Buses #25,
26, 30 and 31 climb Mt. Carmel to the monastery; get off at to the Seminar Gordon stop. A more
expensive and scenic way to get to the monastery is via the Rakbal cable car from Bat Galim; see
Open daily 6am-l:30pm and 3-6pm.)
ELIJAH'S CAVE. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all revere these grounds as
sacred and even magical. According to the Bible, the caves at the base of Mt. Car-
mel sheltered Elijah from the wrath of the evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. They
were more than a bit peeved at the prophet's drastic attempt to win the hearts of
northern Israelites from Ba'al in the 9th century ВСЕ when he brought down a
heavenly fire to consume his sacrifices and then slaughtered the 450 priests of
Ba'al (I Kings 18). Muslims revere Elijah as al-Khadar, the "green prophet" of the
same-colored mountains, Jews believe he will return as the harbinger of the Mes-
siah, and Christians hold that the caves safeguarded the Holy Family upon their
return from Egypt. Adherents of each religion now pray quietly in the dim light.
Modest dress is required, and there is no eating or drinking inside the cave. The
religious (and not so religious) worshipers offering their blessings for you expect
pocket change in return. (230 Allenby St. The stairs leading to the cave's entrance are just
across the street from the National Maritime Museum, but construction may force you to go
around to the left as you face the cave. Just across from the monastery entrance, an inconspicu-
ous trail leads 1km down the Stella Maris ridge to the shrine at Elijah's Cave; do not attempt in
sandals. Free.)
TECHNION. Real nerds can check out the Technion, Israel's internationally
acclaimed institute of technology. The Coler Visitors Center has English-lan-
guage newsletters and computerized displays describing the institution's history
and achievements from its inception in 1913 to the present. (Take bus #17 or 19 from
downtown, Hadar, or central bus stations or 31 from Carmel Center to Kiryat Ha-Technion. «832
"6 68 or 06 64. Open Su-Th 8am-2pm. Free.)