The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Meir of Premishlan

In the town of Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, the ritual baths were located beneath a large mountain. When the paths became slippery, it was necessary to take a longer route around. Yet, Rabbi Meir would still walk over the mountain, even in slippery conditions. Once, some young scholars who did not hold miracles in high regard attempted to follow his path and ended up getting hurt. They later asked Rabbi Meir why he could walk this path while they could not. He replied, "When you're connected above, you don't fall below."

His Holiness, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory. Holy talk, 24 Iyar, 5711

Rabbi Yechezkel of Shinowa, during his time with his teacher, Rabbi Shalom of Belz, decided to travel to Premishlan with the intention of not presenting a note to Rabbi Meir, only wanting to observe his prayer. With the consent of his teacher, he traveled, and Rabbi Meir, with his holy spirit, sensed him. As he entered to pray, Rabbi Meir covered his face with his holy hands when passing by where Rabbi Yechezkel stood. Seeing this during the prayers compelled Rabbi Yechezkel to give him a note, and the righteous one showed him great closeness. He showed Rabbi Yechezkel a specific commentary of Rashi in the Book of Chronicles where it says the first to greet the Messiah will be Jewish soldiers, but to his great surprise, Rabbi Yechezkel could not find this commentary later, realizing that some things in Rashi are only revealed to the righteous.

The holy Rabbi Moshe Halberstam of blessed memory, heard from Rabbi Aharon of Belz, of blessed memoryincluded in "Dibrei Yechezkel", page 136

My father-in-law Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, of blessed memory, while alive, greatly desired to publish the Haggadah and counting with the intentions (kavanot of the Ari) for the public benefit.

His father-in-law Rabbi Avraham Chaim of Mikhaliv, of blessed memory, in the introduction to the "Haggadah of Passover and Sefirat HaOmer with the Intentions of the Ari", printed in Lemberg, 5612

I know I do not have the understanding to grasp the ways and deeds of the righteous... Yet, how great was Rabbi Meir, a celebrated man of God. Even though I do not have the wisdom of others, I recognized some of his good deeds openly, his humility, generosity in Israel, rejection of worldly vanities, and disdain for money - all known and visible. This is why I was motivated to draw near during his lifetime, and I merited to see him twice, like seeing the face of God. I was deeply saddened by his departure, my soul was pained by the loss of such a one. Hence, I was moved to call the mourners, and they wept for the God-fearing man, tears were shed by all. Knowing this was meant to be done in his memory, many pleaded for its printing to distribute in Jacob. Hence I accepted their proposal and intended to name it after him. I knew his death atoned... However, I realized he did not need my memory for his deeds spoke for themselves...

The sage Rabbi Shlomo Kluger, of blessed memory, in his eulogy "Eye of a Tear", published by his son Rabbi Abraham Benjamin Kluger, of blessed memory, at the end of "Language of the Righteous", Lviv, 5644

When my father (Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Schwadron from Berezhany, of blessed memory) was six or seven years old, he had already made a name for himself, as the wise man said, you can tell a lot about a child from his acts... He learned under a pious teacher, yet there was another teacher from the enlightened movement present... hearing of my father's growing reputation, he tried to persuade him with smooth words, suggesting the necessity of knowing grammar to properly understand texts, as even Rashi's holy commentary often delves into grammar. He offered him a book and said he would teach him secrets if he kept this from his father, since his father was a Hasid and distanced himself from such studies...

This was during the time Rabbi Meir of Premishlan had accepted a period of confinement and darkness when Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin was imprisoned, taking upon himself seven years of sitting in the dark. When my grandfather z"l reached the threshold of the house, he wondered whether to give all the tithe money to Rabbi Meir, or just half as usual. Entering the house, Rabbi Meir immediately addressed this, saying, "Moshe, thou art in doubt whether to give the full tithe or as usual. Is there a greater pauper than Meir?" This led him to give the entire tithe. After blessing him as his custom, he asked for a blessing for his son. Rabbi Meir took my father, felt his head, and instructed him to keep his hair untouched, as his grandfather never shaved his hair for lifelong protection. He then placed both hands on his head and exclaimed the biblical warning against bad influences, repeating it over and over until the hairs on my father stood from the overwhelming spirituality. He left with strong advice to follow his father's teachings and stick to the Jewish path, securing his success and longevity.

Rabbi Zvi Shwadron in "Ohel Shem" introduction in "Ways of Peace" from the father, Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Schwadron, the Kohen from Berezhany, page 4 Rabbi Meir of Premishlan asks:

- The Shulchan Aruch commands us to rise like a lion to serve Hashem, and then the Rema adds that even while lying on your bed, remember before whom you lie. This seems contradictory, for after one has risen like a lion, what relevance does the bed have?

He questions and answers himself:

- But the Rema is correct. If one lies down as a human, they will awaken as a lion. But if one lies like a horse, they will never rise as a lion.

Reb Yehuda Leib Levin, of blessed memory, "Hasidim Tell Stories" (Jerusalem 1979) Vol. 3, page 110

[I heard this from Rabbi Avraham Chaim Brim, of blessed memory - it is worth noting the remarkable purity of his conduct. Whenever he traveled through the city of Tel Aviv, while serving as a yeshiva head in Bnei Brak, before a permanent line was established between Bnei Brak and Jerusalem. He diligently avoided any excuse for entering Tel Aviv, yet occasionally found himself having to travel through there. Upon returning home, before entering his home, he went to the mikvah first, even in the dead of night, exhausted from the journey.] Rabbi Meir of Premishlan used to say that from the destruction of the Temple, from generation to generation, there have been righteous men and givers.

From the holy letters of Rabbi Shalom of Shatz, of blessed memory "Knowledge of Peace" (Antwerp 1997) Vol. 2, page 293

It was said in the study hall in the name of the holy Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, that once two partners, who were followers, came for a blessing of success. Rabbi Meir responded cryptically with the letters A, B, G, D. They asked for clarification, and he explained, A means Emunah (Faith), B, means Bracha (Blessing), G means Gezeila (Theft), D means Dalut (Poverty). He expounded, if they conduct their business with faith, they will merit a blessing. But if deceit or theft enters their dealings, poverty will follow. Thus ended his wise words.The righteous Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Friedman of blessed memoryRabbi of Tenkeh."Charm of Solomon" (Brooklyn, 2000) Vol. 1, page 108