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Shimon Ha-Tzaddik Born: Israel, ? Died: Jerusalem, Israel, 312 BCE. One of the earliest high priests (Kohen Gadol) of the Second Temple, Shimon Hatzaddik was also one of the most famous. He was "among the survivors of the 'Ansei Knesset HaGedolah'" (The Men of the Great Assembly," a group of 120 sages who led the Jewish people at the beginning of the 2nd Temple era) The Talmud breaks down this period of the 2nd Temple down into three successive stages, with the first stage being the most meritorious, the second marking a gradual spiritual decline, and the third the most deleterious which ended in the destruction of the 2nd Temple in the year 70 C.E.. Shimon HaTzaddik officiated as the high priest during the first era. When Shimon Hatzaddik was Kohen Gadol, Talmai captured Judea, destroyed the walls of Jerusalem, plundered the Temple treasures, and sold 100,000 men and women as slaves. When Talmai finally left, Shimon Hatzaddik devoted himself to repairing the devastation of Judea and he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Miraculous events repeatedly occurred during the 40 when Shimon HaTzaddik officiated as high priest. These events are as follows: 1)
The lot (goral) inscribed "LaHashem," would always
appear in the right hand of the high priest during the Yom Kippur
service. The faithfulness and goodwill that Shimon
HaTzaddik embodied during his public tenure as high priest profoundly inspired
the nation. His taught: Upon three
things the world is based: upon Torah, upon avodah (service; prayer), and upon
acts of kindness. (Pirkei Avot 1:2) He is
described as a person who took great thought and consideration regarding his
fellow man. His extraordinary character affected the people deeply, and this
manifested itself with a host of miraculous phenomena in the Temple, the House
of Shimon's dedication. The 25th of the Hebrew month of Tevet is called the day of Mount Gerizzim, on which no eulogy is allowed [due to the holiday] On that day, the Kutim petitioned Alexander of Macedon (Alexander The Great) to have our Temple destroyed, and he permitted them to do it. Shimon Hatzaddik who was the Kohen Gadol [High-Priest] at the time dressed himself in the priestly garments and was escorted by the dignitaries of Jerusalem with torches in their hands. When Alexander of Macedon saw them approaching in the distance, he asked the Kutim, "Who are these men?" The Kutim answered, "They are the Jews who have rebelled against you." As soon as Alexander met Shimon HaTzaddik face to face, he descended from his chariot and bowed down to him. The servants protested, "Such a great king as yourself bows to that Jew?" Alexander replied, "This face," explained Alexander, "appeared to me before every battle which I won..." Alexander asked the Jews, "Why have you come to see me?" They replied, "Is it possible that the very Temple where we pray for you and for your empire should be destroyed, through the misleading petitions of these idolaters?" "Who are these idolaters?" inquired the king. The Jews replied, "These Kutim who stand before you." "I deliver them into your hands, treat them as you wish," was Alexander's reply. The Kutim were dragged to Mount Gerizzim, and their Temple was destroyed in the same manner they had intended to destroy our Temple. This day was then declared a holiday. As an appreciation to the Greek leader, every boy born that year was called Alexander. (Talmud Bavli, Yoma,69a) His Last Yom Kippur... The year that he died, he predicted, "This year I an going to die." When they asked him how he knew, he answered, "Every Yom Kippur an elderly man dressed in white and wrapped in white would enter and leave the Holy of Holies with me. Today, though, an elderly man dressed in black and wrapped in black entered with me but he did not come out with me." After the holiday of Sukkot he fell ill for seven days and then he died. That year the kohanim did not mention the Tetragramaton while reciting the priestly blessing (Yoma 39b). May the merit of the tzaddik Shimon Ha-Tzaddik protect us all, Amen. |