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HaRav Yishai Halevi Meir zt"l

by A. Cohen

On motzei Shabbos, parshas Chukas, a huge throng accompanied HaRav Yishai Halevi Meir, zt"l, on his last earthly journey. He was one of the main supporters of Torah in France: a zealous champion of Hashem's war. He was 87 at the time of his petirah.

HaRav Yishai Halevi Meir was born in Loz, in Alsace, France, in Adar 5673 (1913). His father was Reb Reuven Halevi Meir. As a youth he studied under his illustrious father, in whose home he developed outstanding character traits, dedication to the strict observance of halocho and a pure Torah outlook.

When he was nineteen years old he left to study in the Swiss city of Montreux. After completing his studies there, he returned to France, and studied together with HaRav Simcha Wassermann zt"l in Strasbourg. There, Reb Yishai drew very close to gedolei HaTorah who had arrived there, especially HaRav Avrohom Eliyahu Meizes and HaRav Mordechai Pogremansky. He served these great rabbonim, imbibed their teachings, and consulted with them on every aspect of his life, not deviating from their directives in the slightest manner, especially on issues of kiruv rechokim, with which he was deeply involved.

He married Feigele Shovner, o"h, at the beginning of the war, when he was 28. After the end of the war, at the directive of his mentor, HaRav Mordechai Pogremansky, he began to study science, and within a relatively short time he became one of the greatest scientists on the topic of the relationship between vegetation and animals.

He spread emunah in Hashem by means of his scientific research, teaching others to recognize the hand of hashgocho in Creation. Together with his wife, he helped found pure Torah educational institutions, where the importance of Torah study unmarred by secular studies was stressed.

With dedication and endless patience he persuaded many to sever their attachment to non-Jewish culture and to draw closer to authentic Jewish tradition.

When he saw the difficulty of giving his children a genuine uncompromising Torah education in France, he sent his wife and six children to Gateshead. He remained behind in France to earn his livelihood, visiting his family whenever possible.

Hospitality was one of the hallmarks of his home, and every Jew in need found spiritual and material help therein. It was a meeting-place for Torah sages, whom he often hosted. When rabbonim came to France, they knew that they could find a strictly observant Torah home upon which they could rely. When the Steipler Rav sent his son-in-law, HaRav Shaul Barzem to found a kollel in Strasbourg, HaRav Meir became very close to him. With his vast knowledge in botanical science, HaRav Meir helped HaRav Barzem study the topic of insect infestation in oranges.

In 5741 (1981) he moved to Eretz Yisroel into the very building in which the Steipler lived. From the moment he arrived he devoted all his time to Torah study in Kollel Chazon Ish and Kollel Baalei Battim, noting that this was the most glorious period in his life.

On Shabbos parshas Chukas, he returned his pure soul to its Maker. His levaya, which left from his home in Ramat Elchonon on motzei Shabbos 7 Tammuz, was attended by a large throng. Prior to the beginning of the procession, hespedim were delivered by the moro de'asra, HaRav Yitzchok Silberstein and HaRav Menachem Tzvi Berlin, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim Ozer.

The levaya passed by the Lederman shul, where he had davened most of his days in Eretz Yisroel. His son, HaRav Shmuel, delivered a eulogy. He was buried after chatzos on Har Hamenuchos in Jerusalem.

He is survived by his sons, Reb Reuven, rosh yeshiva of Or HaTalmud in France; HaRav Shmuel, principal of a seminary for girls in Bnei Brak and Reb Avrohom, an outstanding avreich in Kollel Ponovezh. His sons-in- law are HaRav Menashe Schwab, one of the heads of Kollel HaRan in Jerusalem; HaRav Boruch Mollar of Switzerland; HaRav Matisyahu Hirshler, head of Kollel Halichos Shlomo; HaRav Aharon Zev Grossbard, menahel ruchani of Ponovezh; HaRav Avrohom Yeshaya Falk, ram in the Yeshiva Letzeirim in Bnei Brak, as well as by grandchildren who are continuing along the path he charted for them.


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