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Today is: Sunday, Kislev 21, 5771 · November 28, 2010
• Alexander in Jerusalem (313 BCE)
On Kislev 21 of the year 3448 from
creation (313 BCE), there occurred the historic meeting between Shimon
HaTzaddik and Alexander ('the Great") of Macedonia.
The Samarians, bitter enemies of the Jews, had convinced Alexander
that the Jews' refusal to place his image in their Temple was a sign of
rebellion against his sovereignty, and that the Holy Temple should be
destroyed. The Kohen Gadol ("High Priest") at the time was Shimon
HaTzaddik, the last of the "Men of the Great Assembly" who rebuilt the
Holy Temple and revitalized Judaism under Ezra.
On the 21st of Kislev Alexander marched on Jerusalem at the head of his
army; Shimon, garbed in the vestments of the High Priest and
accompanied with a delegation of Jewish dignitaries, went forth to greet
him. The two groups walked towards each other all night; at the crack
of dawn they met. As Alexander beheld the visage of the High Priest, he
dismounted his horse and bowed respectfully; to his men he explained
that he often had visions of a similar-looking man leading him into
battle. Shimon HaTzaddik brought the emperor to the Holy Temple and
explained that Judaism prohibits the display of any graven image; he
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). The Samarians plot was
rebuffed, and Kislev 21 was declared a holiday. (Talmud Yoma 69a)
According to an alternative version, this episode occurred on the 25th of Tevet.
• Satmar Rebbe Rescued (1944)
The Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum (1887-1979), was rescued from the
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, along with 1,368 other Jews, through the efforts
of Rudulf Kastner, head of the Zionist rescue operation in Hungary (an earlier
transport of 1,686 Jews had been rescued on Av 29). The Satmar community celebrates
the 21st of Kislev as a day of thanksgiving.
Where is G-d? Where you allow Him to enter
- The Rebbe of Pscizcha
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