Shimon the Righteous and the Meeting with Alexander the Great

Shimon the Righteous served as High Priest for forty years and was, in the words of Pirkei Avot, 'among the last of the Men of the Great Assembly.' His maxim: 'On three things the world stands — on Torah, on the Temple service, and on acts of kindness.' In his days, around the year 3448, Alexander of Macedon's army swept through the Land of Israel, ending Persian rule.

The Talmud relates that the Samaritans obtained Alexander's permission to destroy the Temple. Hearing this, Shimon put on the priestly garments, took the notables of Jerusalem and walked all night toward the army with torches. At dawn, near Antipatris, the two processions met. Seeing the old man in white, Alexander descended from his chariot and bowed. His courtiers were scandalized; Alexander answered, 'The image of this man goes before me when I win my battles.' Told of the Samaritans' request, he handed them over to the Jews. The day was made a festival.

Under Alexander the Jews received wide autonomy: the right to live by the Torah, exemption from tribute in the sabbatical year, and release from military duty on Shabbat. In gratitude, tradition says, children born that year were named Alexander — and a Greek name became a Jewish one.