Nahal Siach and Carmelite Monastery
My sons are in the middle of their university exams and we decided to take a healthy break and go on a short hike thru one of the prettiest valleys that descend from the hills of the Carmel to the Mediterranean. Nahal Siach has cut thru the sedimentary limestone rock and exposed some amazing sections with nodules of flint rock that look like tasty chips sticking out from a melted vanilla icing. The trail starts in a residential section of Haifa close to the Ahmadiyya mosque and then quickly descends into lush green vegetation that is not lacking for water. Half way down are archeological remnants of a monastery that was set up by the Carmelite order back in the 13th century. This was the original site where some Christian hermits and monks during the Crusader period wanting to identify with the biblical prophet Elijah (Elias) decided to settle. Indeed it was on the Carmel that Elijah had the great contest with the priests of Baal. Tradition has Elijah at times living and hiding in nearby caves here on the Carmel while avoiding the wrath of Queen Jezebel and King Ahab. In back of the monastery ruins is a fantastic spring with a small pool that my sons want to return to and enjoy its refreshing water on a hot spring day. The monks had fresh water here all year and this along with biblical ties sustained them physically and spiritually. We were especially fortunate this time to see the beautiful rare endangered species Tree Spurge blossoming. It is spherically shaped and with its pronounced patch of yellow flowers shines like a constellation of stars over the landscape. Perhaps this view also encouraged the Carmelites later to call their monastery Stella Maris as these "stars" led from the sea up to the monastery.
