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Haifa
is the third largest city in Israel, and it's northern
capital, with a population of approximately 250,000, and
perhaps its most progressive.
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Haifa
is the home of the World Headquarters of the Bahai' faith
and the beautiful Bahai gardens are a tourist attraction.
Although
it does not appear in the Bible, Haifa is mentioned in
Talmudic literature as a well-established Jewish
community. Across
from the National Maritime Museum on Allenby Road are
steps to Elijah’s Cave. According to a Byzantine
tradition, this is where Elijah the Prophet hid to escape
the wrath of King Ahab.. The first Sunday after Tisha
B'Av, Oriental Jews recite Isaiah 40 and ask the
prophet to bless their children, cure their illnesses and
better their lives.
| .In
1099 C.E., the city was conquered by the
Crusaders, who slaughtered all the Jewish
inhabitants. The Carmelite Order was established
in 1156 C.E. over Elijah’s Cave. In 1265 C.E.,
Haifa fell to the Mamlukes, and in 1750
C.E.
was captured by the Bedouin, Dahar al-Omar, who
destroyed, then rebuilt and fortified it. From
1775 C.E. until World War I, Haifa was under
Turkish control with two interruptions — in 1799
C.E., it was conquered by Napoleon and, from
1831-1840 C.E., it was under Egyptian rule. Early
in the 19th century, Jews from North Africa
settled in Haifa. In 1868 C.E., German Templars
established Haifa's German Colony and in 1879 C.E.
European Jews settled in the city. |
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"Israel's
MIT," the Technion, is in Haifa. The only subway in
Israel is also in Haifa.
At
the top of Mount Carmel is the Carmel Hospital, noted for
its architecture. The building looks like a pyramid
standing on its point.
At
the foot of the Carmel is the MATAM industrial center
which is one of the largest concentrations of high
technology business in Israel. |
