Rabbi Meir

Rabbi Meir (Hebrew Enlightening, He 13b, his real name is also in accordance He 13b, have Meascha gelautet, also known as a miracle worker, su, -. Meir from the name of the Jewish name is derived Meier ) was a leading Tannaite the 3rd or 4th generation ( 2nd century ), ie, one of the authors of the Mishnah.

He was chief disciple Rabbi Akiba (see history of the Mishnah ). Since his father's name is unknown, the tradition began to emerge that he was like Akiba proselyte been. Previously, he was a pupil of Ishmael and of Aher ( the apostate Elisha ben Abuja ). Rabbi Meir's wife Berurja, the only one in the rabbinic literature known as scholars woman, have been handed down by the numerous in rabbinic literature anecdotes, was the daughter of Hanina ben Teradjon.

According to tradition, Rabbi Meir said to have been ordained with four other students Akiba during the Bar Kochba revolt. During the war he fled abroad and returned only after years back. In Uscha in the West Galilee, he founded the new Sanhedrin.

After he had fallen out with the Nasi Shimon ben Gamliel II, he opened his own teaching in Tiberias house.

R. Meir is significant as well as Halachist as Aggadist and legend Narrator ( cf. Sanh 38b). He had a special share in the drafting of the Mishnah, in which he is called about 330 times.

The anonymous teaching in the Mishnah is loud Sherira those Meir ( which is based on Akiba, has in turn taken over by his teachers ). Anonymous is because Meir had enjoyed the instruction of Elisha ben Abuja, which was a great scholar, but also an apostate, to which one could not rely on. Meir was blamed because he studied with him but it had to defend himself by saying that he enjoyed the fruit and throw away the shell. Nevertheless, it is for this reason Meir not by name, but only with the name acherim ( " but teach others ... " ) quotes.

Meir's Torah interpretation is regarded as particularly perceptive and subtle. As a result, it has often made decisions but contrary to his view.

R. Meir was known for his extraordinary tolerance towards non-Jews (eg, it was a close relationship with the Greek philosophers Euonymos from Gedara ) and against apostates ( eg. Elisha ben Abuja ).

Although died in Asia Minor, he was buried by medieval view in Tiberias, where they worship on a hill of Tiberias Hammath between two synagogues since that time his grave. According to legend, prayers are heard particularly in his grave. Therefore, Rabbi Meir now bears the nickname ba'al ha - nes (Eng. " the miracle worker ").