During his military campaign against Persia, Alexander
took a detour to the south, conquering Tyre and then Egypt
via what is today Israel. There is a fascinating story about
Alexander's first encounter with the Jews of Israel, who
were subjects of the Persian Empire.
The narrative concerning Alexander's first interaction
with the Jews is recorded in both the Talmud (Yoma 69a)
and in the Jewish historian Josephus's Book of Antiqui-
ties (XI, 321-47.) In both accounts the High Priest of the
Temple at Jerusalem, fearing that Alexander would des-
troy the city, went out to meet him before he arrived at
the city.
The narrative describes how Alexander, upon seeing
the High Priest, dismounted and bowed to him. Alexan-
der rarely, if ever bowed to anyone.) "I did not bow before
before him, but before that God who has honored him
with the Priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream,
in this very apparel."
Alexander interpreted the vision of the High Priest as
a good omen and thus spared Jerusalem, peacefully
absorbing the Land of Israel into his growing empire. As
a tribute to his benign conquest, the Sages decreed that
the Jewish firstborn of that time be named Alexander--
which remains a Jewish name to this very day. And the
date of the encounter, the 25th of Tevet, was declared a
minor holiday.
http://thejewniverse.com/2012/alexander-the-jew/
http://www.e-daf.com/index.asp?ID=1061
donporter,sr 6.07.15
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