Elijah's Cave

Though there are many important caves to view while on a Holy Land tour, Elijah's Cave is certainly one of the most interesting. Located in Haifa, Elijah's Cave has a great deal of symbolic and historic meaning. Even the stairway to the cave is fascinating, offering an interesting view of the vistas of the city. This site was first mentioned in a letter by a Jewish visitor in 1626 who spoke of a holy place which they described as "Elijah's large and magnificent cave" located on Mount Carmel. According to the legend, Elijah visited the cave to pray prior to challenging the prophets of Baal during which he called fire down from heaven (1 Kings 18). Inside the cave you will find a Torah ark and a space dedicated in the ceiling to prayer notes left by visitors. Some people come to pray quietly while others host celebrations such as circumcisions or first haircuts. The right side of the wall is cover in ancient Greek and Hebrew. This is truly an interesting site to see during a Holy Land tour.