Click here for the Scholar chat schedule.
Email us your question and we'll try to respond within 24 hours.
Type in your email address here:
Select a topic:
Type in your question here:
The Scholar is ready to answer your question. Click the button below to chat now.
A Scholar is currently unavailable at this time, so please check back again. In the meantime you can click here to email Moses your question or search our archives for related topics.
PRINT EMAIL COMMENT
When the high priest, Shimon the Tzaddik (Simon the Righteous), heard about this decree, he donned his priestly garments and set out to meet Alexander. He was accompanied by some of the most prominent people in Israel all holding torches in their hands.
The two groups walked towards each other all night. But there was another delegation going towards Alexander’s camp—the Samaritans. At dawn, Alexander saw the Jewish delegation in the distance and he asked the Samaritans that were with him, “Who are these people?”
They answered, “These are Jews—the ones that rebelled against you.”
At the crack of dawn they met. When Alexander saw Shimon the Tzaddik he alit from his carriage and bowed to him respectfully. His entourage was obviously surprised and said, “Shall a king of your stature bow to this Jew?”
Alexander replied that Shimon’s image appeared before him in all of his battles, leading him to victory. He then turned to the Jews and asked them why they had come. They replied: “Is it possible that idolaters should mislead you to destroy the house in which we pray for you and your empire?” Shimon the Tzaddik showed Alexander the Holy Temple and explained that the Torah forbids the display of any graven image. He then offered to name all the male children born to priests that year “Alexander” as a demonstration of loyalty to the emperor (which is how "Alexander" became a common Jewish name).
At that point the tables were turned and the Samaritans gained the ill-will of Alexander.
This historic meeting occurred on the 25th of Tevet 25 of the year 3448 (313 BCE).1
Footnotes
ADD A COMMENT
My question: Does that make all Alexanders cohains?
Editor's Comment
