The Miracles of Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes

This Wednesday night and Thursday until sunset, marks the Yahrzeit of the revered sage Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes. Here's a brief guide to his holy persona and his famed blessing.

1. Student of Rabbi Akiva

Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes was a prominent student of Rabbi Akiva, and one of the five ordained by Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava.

2. His Name - Rabbi Nehorai

The Talmud mentions, "His name was not Rabbi Meir but Rabbi Nehorai, and why is he called Rabbi Meir? Because he illuminates the eyes of the sages in Halacha" (Eruvin 13b).

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3. A Descendant of Nero

Rabbi Meir is said to be a descendant of Nero Caesar. As recorded in the 'Book of Genealogies': "Rabbi Meir... and he was of the seed of Nero, the great minister of Caesar, whom Caesar sent to destroy Jerusalem before sending Vespasian, and he asked a child who said, 'I will lay vengeance on Edom through Israel,' converted, and from him came forth this pious soul of heavenly light."

4. His Enormous Greatness

In Sanhedrin it's mentioned: "An anonymous Mishnah is from Rabbi Meir" - meaning a law stated without attribution in the Mishnah is attributed to Rabbi Meir. This shows his greatness. "Ravina said:... Whoever saw Rabbi Meir in the study hall felt like he was uprooting mountains and grinding them against each other" [Sanhedrin 24a].

5. Humility and Modesty

Among the many virtues of Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes, his modesty stands out, as praised by Rabbi Yosi ben Chalafta: "A great man, a holy man, a modest man" (Jerusalem Talmud Moed Katan 3, 5). His humility was particularly evident, as he never acted on his decisions when his colleagues disagreed. In the Tractate Shabbat, he said: "My heart never led me to oppose my colleagues' words."

6. Establishing Peace

The Jerusalem Talmud recounts a special story illustrating Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes' humility: "Once a man forbade his wife from entering their home because she was late after listening to Rabbi Meir's lecture on Friday night, unless she spat in the eye of the lecturer, Rabbi Meir himself. Rabbi Meir, understanding by divine spirit, pretended to have an eye ailment and asked if anyone could whisper a remedy. Her neighbors urged her: 'Go spit in his eye, then you can return home.' As she approached Rabbi Meir, she was asked if she could whisper. Out of fear, she replied, 'No.' Rabbi Meir said, 'Spit in my face seven times; that would relieve my pain more.' After she did so, he said, 'Go tell your husband: You told me once, I spat seven times.'

His students asked: 'Rabbi, is this how you disgrace the Torah? We could have brought him to justice and had him restore peace with his wife.' He replied, 'Shouldn't Meir's honor be like Hashem's? The holy Name is erased in sacred waters for peace between husband and wife, so should not my honor be less?'

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7. His Sayings

In the Mishnah, the following sayings are attributed to Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes:

8. Eloka D'Meir Aneini

Why was Rabbi Meir known as "Baal Hanes"? In the Tractate Avodah Zarah, there's the following story: Bruria, the wife of Rabbi Meir, had a sister who was captured and imprisoned. Rabbi Meir went to redeem her, approaching the guard and asking for her release. The guard feared the government. Rabbi Meir gave him coins to bribe them and said to use half for bribery and keep the other half. The guard asked, 'What should I do when the money runs out?' Rabbi Meir told him to say "Eloka D'Meir Aneini."
Sometime later, the emperor heard of the guard's act, releasing Rabbi Meir's wife's sister, and ordered his hanging. When the noose was placed, the guard invoked "Eloka D'Meir Aneini," and the execution failed. The emperor marveled and asked the guard for the secret, who revealed the entire incident.

The question on this story is: How did a non-Jew know to aim for such high and lofty intentions? The answer is because he aimed with the knowledge of Rabbi Meir. Similarly, when anyone says "Eloka D'Meir Aneini," they should intend according to Rabbi Meir's will, and merits for salvation.

Some interpreters say Rabbi Meir didn't mean himself, but: 'The God who enlightens the earth and its inhabitants will answer us.'

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9. The Greatness of His Wife Bruria

Of the verse "A woman of valor, who can find", the Sages described Bruria, Rabbi Meir's wife, and how he accepted judgment with love. As told in the Midrash Mishlei: "Once, Rabbi Meir was teaching in the Beit Midrash on Shabbat afternoon, and their two sons died. What did their mother, Bruria, do? She placed them on a bed and covered them with a sheet. After Shabbat, Rabbi Meir asked her, 'Where are our sons?' She replied, 'They went to the Beit Midrash.' He said, 'I observed the Beit Midrash and did not see them.' She served him the Havdalah wine; he did Havdalah. Again, he asked, 'Where are our sons?' She replied, 'They went elsewhere and will be back shortly.' She placed food before him, and he ate and blessed Hashem. Afterward, she said, 'Rabbi, may I ask you a question?' He said, 'Ask your question.' She said, 'Rabbi, today someone entrusted me with a deposit and now wants it back, should I return it to him?' He said, 'My daughter, whoever has a deposit must return it to its owner.' She said, 'Without your opinion, I would not have given it back.' What did she do? She led him to the room where she unveiled the bed, and he saw his sons lying dead. He began to weep, saying, 'My sons, my sons, my teachers, my teachers. My sons for their diligence, my teachers for enlightening me with their teachings.' At that moment, Bruria told Rabbi Meir: 'Rabbi, didn't you tell me to return the deposit? Hashem gave, Hashem took, blessed be the name of Hashem.'

10. Say "Eloka D'Meir Aneini" Three Times

In the book 'Tabur Ha'aretz,' it's noted: "Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes, Rabbi Meir the sage... that's why he is called Baal Hanes, his merit is profound enough to perform miracles and wonders, and we derived from him to say 'Eloka D'Meir Aneini'."

In 'Ben Ish Chai': "There's an idea to light a candle in honor of Rabbi Meir on the first of Tevet." The Chida, in his book "Petach Einayim", wrote, "And in holiness, in all Jewish communities, if God forbid there's a theft or loss and at times of trouble, illness, and pain, they vow oil or money at Rabbi Meir's grave and say 'Eloka D'Meir Aneini,' and he will answer and rescue them."

The well-known blessing is done as follows: Set aside money for charity or light a candle, and say "Eloka D'Meir Aneini" three times. This is to beseech Hashem alone for help.

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