Rabbi Meir of Premishlan: Life, Miracles, and Timeless Chassidic Legacy

Rabbi Meir (son of Rabbi Aharon Aryeh) of Premishlan was the third Rebbe of the Premishlan Chassidic dynasty. He was the grandson of the great Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, the founder of the dynasty and one of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov.

He was known for his simplicity and humility. Rabbi Meir became famous for his love of every Jew and his habit of finding merit even for the sinners of Israel. He possessed spiritual vision (ruach hakodesh), performed miracles, and brought salvation to many. Thousands came to him to receive blessings.

Generosity and Charity

Stories of his extreme generosity are well known. It is said that he distributed all his money to charity and refused to go to sleep until every penny earmarked for tzedakah had been given away.

He loved the mitzvah of tzedakah from a young age. At age 10, he would collect charity every Thursday for the poor to help them prepare for Shabbat. He made an arrangement with a butcher named Shimon: Rabbi Meir would tell him whether the ox he planned to buy would be kosher or non-kosher, on condition that the butcher donate generously to charity.

This continued each Thursday. As the butchers saw that Shimon’s animals were always kosher while the others suffered losses, they suspected bribery in the slaughterhouse. The matter caused a great commotion until it was revealed that the success came from 10-year-old Meir.

Upon hearing this, Meir’s teacher sharply rebuked him and demanded he stop immediately. Years later, that same teacher became his disciple and remained close to him.

Famous Miracles

Many miracle stories became associated with Rabbi Meir of Premishlan. His handwritten notes and personal items were said to possess special spiritual protection.

His grandson, Rabbi Yaakov of Shotz, survived the horrors of the Holocaust despite facing death several times. He attributed his miraculous survival to the fact that he carried with him a spice box that had belonged to Rabbi Meir.

A Miracle at Sea

Another story tells of a chassid who went to say farewell before traveling to Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Meir gave him a personal item and instructed him that if a storm erupted at sea, he should throw the item into the water and declare: “This object belongs to Meir son of Yenta.” Immediately, the sea would calm. And so it happened.

His Daughter and the Miraculous Staff

One of his daughters, the righteous Miriam Miriam-Chaya (wife of Rabbi Yoel Moskowitz of Shotz), inherited her father’s staff. She requested that after her passing, the staff be placed in her grave to protect the town of Shotz.

A wonder occurred: During World War I, surrounding towns were destroyed by fire, but Shotz remained untouched.

Encounter with the Divrei Chaim of Sanz

Once, when Rabbi Chaim of Sanz and his son Rabbi Baruch were near Premishlan, Rabbi Meir sensed a great holiness approaching and sent for them. 

When they arrived, he asked: “Are you not of the Great Rabbinical Court? Then tell me — must Meir live in such small, humble dwellings? Does he not deserve a larger, more comfortable home?”

Rabbi Chaim answered: “Certainly, it would be fitting for him to live in a more spacious home.”

Rabbi Meir replied: “If so, I will do as you say.”

Rabbi Chaim immediately understood the deeper meaning and clarified: “I meant only in this world — that you should have a more comfortable home here.”

But Rabbi Meir said: “You cannot retract now. I sought only your agreement, and since you gave it — so it shall be.”

Rabbi Meir passed away several weeks later.

“Greater in Death Than in Life”

Our sages teach that the righteous are “greater in their death than in their life.” May the merit of Rabbi Meir of Premishlan shield us and bless us.