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.
