[[Rabbeinu Tam|R. Jacob Tam]] expressed his belief that '''Simon CaIaphas''', the first Patriarch of Jerusalem, "was a devout and learned Jew, who dedicated his life to guiding [http://godfearers.com/index.php/Notzrim Heretics] along the proper path. R. Tam further maintained that Simon was the author of the Nishmat prayer recited on Sabbaths and Festivals, as well as a prayer for Yom Kippur ([https://www.sefaria.org/Machzor_Vitry%2C_Laws_of_Rosh_HaShanah.325?lang=bi Machzor Vitry], edited by S.Hurwitz, 1923, p.285 note 5 and p. 362 note 5. CF. [[Julius Eisenstein|J. Eisenstein]]'s articles on Simon CaIaphas in [[Otzar Israel]] and [[Otzar Midrashim]]).
It may also be noted that [[Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg|R. Judah He-Hasid]], leader of the twelfth century [[Hasidei Ashkenaz]] in Germany, also referred to Simon as a Pious man ("zaddik"; [[Sefer Hasidim]], no. 191)."<ref>page 34 of the Wipf and Stock Publisher's edition of New York Orthodox Rabbi [[Harvey Falk]]'s book "Jesus the Pharisee: A new look at the Jewishness of Jesus" (copyright 1985 Paulist Press)</ref>