There is a Talmudic idea that in every generation there are 36 righteous/Tzadikim men...
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/837699/jewish/Who-Are-the-36-Hidden-Tzadikim.htm
Question:
Who or what are the 36 holy people? I get the gist of such people being alive at one time, but are they still around? What is their purpose? Is it all a mystery?
Response:
Our holy books say that every generation actually has a minimum (there may be more) of 72 holy men, 36 who live in Israel, and 36 who live outside of Israel.
The number 36 corresponds to the 6 days of creation, and the 30 days of an average month. It also corresponds to the 36 candles kindled during Hanukkah.
The primary source for this teaching is in the Talmud, Succah 45b:
"The world never has less than thirty-six righteous men who receive the Divine Presence every day, for it is said, 'Happy are they that wait lo [for Him]' and the numerical value of 'lo' is thirty-six."
In merit of these righteous individuals, our world receives the divine vitality that keeps it going. We do not know for sure, however, the identity of all these extraordinary individuals.