It is for good reason that Jews close Yom Kippur — just before the blowing of the shofar with the triumphant cry from the wonderful passage (First Kings,chapter 19) in which Elijah vanquishes the prophets of Ba’al on Mt. Carmel: “Adonai Hoo Ha Elohim! The Eternal One (alone) is God!” We chant it seven times before we hear the shofar (the ONLY time all day we hear the shofar on Yom Kippur) to signify the end of the most solemn holy day in our calendar.
Sadly, most Jews have no idea of this connection, but it is crucial! King Ahab and (even more so) Queen Jezebel (a name known as a synonym for wickedness even for people who never read the Bible) had corrupted Israelite worship by setting up Ba’al and its prophets as their favored cultic practice. They vowed to kill Elijah who was the champion of the one true God.
So Elijah challenges the prophets of Ba’al on Mt Carmel. He says we will each prepare our offering, and the god who consumes the offering without a fire being kindled is the real deity. The prophets of Ba’al go first, and though they cry out and gash themselves, nothing happens. Then Elijah pours water all over his offering, so much water that it fills the trench around the makeshift altar erected for the showdown. Then Elijah cries, “Answer me, O Eternal One, Answer me, and POOF! The offering, the altar beneath it and even the trench filled with water go up in smoke.
Who is God? Elijah essentially asks? Is it your idol that you worship by gashing yourselves and with other abominations that make a mockery of human dignity? Is it Ba’al who—you hope—will greedily eat your offering? Or is it the one true God who wants us to create a world of justice, kindness, caring and compassion?
And then in most dramatic fashion God vanquishes Ba’al on Mt Carmel and everyone must acknowledge God’s sovereignty. It is a replay in miniature of the ten plagues and the Exodus from Egypt where God defeats Pharaoh, the pagan god in human form.
So what should Jews take away when the liturgy references this amazing scene at what is arguably the holiest moment of the year? What should we all learn from this passage that can help us to live better lives?
Even though many in power debase the ideals and values that the Eternal One wants us to uphold—and even though God does not assert the reality of the Divine presence as dramatically to us as we see on Mt. Carmel (or in the parting of the sea)–it is our job to hold fast to God’s desires for us. True worship is not found in mouthing empty words, but in making our faith the driving force in our lives. We glorify God and demonstrate our faith when we use the talents that God has given us—whatever they may be—to help repair this broken world.
Finding Ourselves In The Bible 
Thank you for shedding light on this part of the service and our marching orders, as it were. Shanah tovah.
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You are very welcome! Thank you for this kind comment. I would love to know who you are. But even without that knowledge I send warm wishes for a meaningful Yom Kippur and a very happy New Year!
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Reblogged this on Finding Ourselves In Biblical Narratives and commented:
Many are aware that that the Prophet Elijah is the symbol of our hope that we can make the world a better place! That is why we invite Elijah to join us at our Passover Seders and at the close of each Shabbat during Havdalah, our ceremony of separation from our weekly day of spiritual refreshment.
Fewer people, though, are familiar with the direct reference to the hope Elijah represents for all humanity at the close of Yom Kippur. I hope this brief essay helps to make that connection.
To all who observe this most sacred day of the Jewish year I wish a most meaningful period of introspection and to those who are able an easy fast.
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Thank you Rabbi for this powerful meaningful piece of history. A reminder to us all Jew and non Jew alike to introspect and worship the true G.d.
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Amen! And thank you, Susan
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THANK YOU may 5778 be a GOOD YEAR filled with BLESSINGS for you, your family, all ISREALand the PLANET.
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Thanks to you as well, with reciprocal wishes, but I wish I knew who you are.
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Is there also a link in the ongoing lessons from this scene, to Elijah’s instruction to the people to seize the prophets of Ba’al, and his execution of all of them at the brook Kishon? Or the sudden end immediately thereafter to the long drought? I’m edified by the lesson, and stirred by many questions it also engenders.
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It raises many questions excellent questions indeed, Will, and they are better dealt with in the give and take of conversation rather than by posts here. In short I would say the story represents the ways of the Eternal One ultimately triumphing over the ways of evil. If I were writing the story today, my portrayal of the destruction of evil would be far less graphic.
Thank you for raising these important issues.
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Amen and thanks. I agree that conversation is a better medium for understanding than media that deprive us of all the paraverbal and nonverbal information that can help us communicate with integrity and understanding.
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