Went today to the Cave where the Prophet Eliahu Hanavi . According to the Tanach Eliahu Hanavi hid in this cave during the reign of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel in the 9th Century in Mount Carmel. In those days the Jews started worshiping the Baal (a nature god) and Eliahu Hanavi stressed monotheism and the believe in The One
G-d. He prophesied a great drought that lasted three and a half years.
According to the story he made a contest against 450 false prophets that worshiped the Baal to see who was right. They put a bull for sacrifice and the 450 prophets call on their deity to consume it by fire by no avail, then Eliahu Hanavi prays to G-d and the bull is consumed by fire. The 450 false prophets are slain by the people and rain starts to fall ending the drought. Eliahu Hanavi flees the wrath of Jezebel. Later on the story says that Eliahu Hanavi is taken alive to heaven in a chariot drawn by fiery horses.
Eliahu Hanavi today is remembered at every Pesach Seder putting a big cup of wine and filling it up in the center of the table and leaving the door open so he can come and drink, it says that at every Brit Mila (circumcision)Eliahu Hanavi comes to watch and a special chair is set for him and every Shabbat at the end of the meal we sing “speedily ,in our days… Along with Meshiach, son of David, to redeem us”.
Love how in The Land of Israel every little corner has our story.
