Yarzheit 29th Tishrei

שמעון הצדיק היה משיירי אנשי כנסת הגדולה הוא היה אומר על שלושה דברים העולם עומד על התורה ועל העבודה ועל גמילות החסדים

Shimon the Righteous was one of the last survivors of the Great Assembly. 

He used to say: On three things the world is sustained: on Torah, on spiritual service, and on deeds of loving kindness.

Pirkei Avos פרקי אבוֹת , מסכת אבות פרק א, משנה ב.

Shimon Hatzaddik lived approximately 2400 years ago in years (400 bce - 300 bce)

It is known that he was the “Kohen Gadol,” the High Priest of the Jewish People, during the reign of Alexander the Great, the world-conquering Greek Emperor. Yoma 69a presents a dramatic account of a confrontation between Shimon and Alexander. Alexander stood at the Gates of Jerusalem, with evil intentions regarding it, that caused the city’s inhabitants to tremble with fear. Shimon donned the “Bigdei Lavan,” the White Garments that he wore on Yom Kippur when he entered the Holy of Holies, and went out to meet Alexander.

When the great Emperor saw Shimon HaTzaddik, he dismounted and prostrated himself on the ground before Shimon. When his generals, very puzzled, asked him why he was bowing to the Jew, he replied that every night before a victory, he would see in a dream a figure that looked exactly like the Jewish High Priest, who would advise him on tactics to use the following day. And that advice had never failed him.

Shimon HaTzaddik took Alexander the Great on a tour of the Temple. Alexander, very impressed, requested that a marble image of himself be placed in the Temple. Shimon demurred, saying that it was forbidden for the Jews to have images, and certainly not in the Temple. He suggested an alternative way of memorializing the occasion of the Emperor’s visit to the Holy City of the Jews. That would be that all male babies born that year would receive the name “Alexander.” The Emperor liked the idea, and that is how the name “Alexander” became part of the set of names conferred upon Jewish male babies.

Shimon HaTzaddik was “Kohen Gadol” for forty years. It is known that during those years, the “Anshei Knesset HaGedolah” was quite active. The rituals of Kiddush and Havdalah were introduced, blessings were formulated over various kinds of food, and the reading of the Haftarah was added to the Service on Shabbos and the Festivals. Article with thanks to Judaism 101 see also article www.outreachjudaism.org/Yomkippur.html

Photos of the Tomb Ohel of Shimon Hatzaddik

From this photo one can see the grave is built into a stone cave on the hillside.

Photo of the Grave of Shimon Hatzaddik with all the prayers next to the grave

For photos of the Cave of the Sanhedrin

Photos with thanks to Pinchos Osher Rohr of Israel.

For anyone wishing to send Prayer Requests to the Rabbi who visits the Grave of Shimon Hatzaddik

Click here to send email "Prayer Request"