Legend ← Previous revision Revision as of 14:42, 30 October 2009 Line 12: Line 12: He was called “'''רבי מאיר בעל-הנס Rabbi Meir Baal Ha-Neis (or Ha-Nes)'''” (“the Master of the Miracle”) because of the following story. He was married to Beruriah, the daughter of Rabbi ((Chananiah ben Teradyon)), one of the ((ten martyrs)). The government ordered Rabbi Chanina's and his wife’s execution for teaching torah publicly. They decreed that his daughter (Beruriah's sister) should live a life of shame. She was placed in a brothel. Beruriah asked her husband to save her sister. Rabbi Meir took a bag of gold coins and went to the brothel disguised as a Roman horseman. When he discovered that Beruriah's sister kept her chastity he offered the money as a bribe to the guard. The guard replied, “When my supervisor comes, he will notice one missing and kill me.” R' Meir answered, “Take half the money for yourself, and use the other half to bribe the officials.” The guard continued, “And when there is no more money, and the supervisors come - then what will I do?” R' Meir answered, “Say, ‘The god of Meir - answer me!’ and you will be saved.” The guard asked, “And how can I be guaranteed that this will save me?” R' Meir replied, “Look - there are man-eating dogs over there. I will go to them and you will see for yourself.” R' Meir walked over the dogs and they ran over to him to tear him apart. He cried, “god of Meir - answer me!” and the dogs retreated. The guard was convinced and gave him the girl. When the group of supervisors came, the guard bribed them with the money. Eventually, the money was used up, and it was publicized what had happened. They arrested the guard and sentenced him to death by hanging. They tied the rope around his neck and he said, “god of Meir - answer me!” The rope tore, much to everyone’s amazement. He told them the incident, and they went after R' Meir. The guard was saved.<ref name="Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNess Biography">(http://judaicaplus.com/tzadikim/tz_viewer.cfm?page=meir.htm&t=Rabbi%20Meir%20Ba'al%20HaNess http://judaicaplus.com/tzadikim/tz_viewer.cfm?page=meir.htm&t=Rabbi%20Meir%20Ba'al%20HaNess)</ref> He was called “'''רבי מאיר בעל-הנס Rabbi Meir Baal Ha-Neis (or Ha-Nes)'''” (“the Master of the Miracle”) because of the following story. He was married to Beruriah, the daughter of Rabbi ((Chananiah ben Teradyon)), one of the ((ten martyrs)). The government ordered Rabbi Chanina's and his wife’s execution for teaching torah publicly. They decreed that his daughter (Beruriah's sister) should live a life of shame. She was placed in a brothel. Beruriah asked her husband to save her sister. Rabbi Meir took a bag of gold coins and went to the brothel disguised as a Roman horseman. When he discovered that Beruriah's sister kept her chastity he offered the money as a bribe to the guard. The guard replied, “When my supervisor comes, he will notice one missing and kill me.” R' Meir answered, “Take half the money for yourself, and use the other half to bribe the officials.” The guard continued, “And when there is no more money, and the supervisors come - then what will I do?” R' Meir answered, “Say, ‘The god of Meir - answer me!’ and you will be saved.” The guard asked, “And how can I be guaranteed that this will save me?” R' Meir replied, “Look - there are man-eating dogs over there. I will go to them and you will see for yourself.” R' Meir walked over the dogs and they ran over to him to tear him apart. He cried, “god of Meir - answer me!” and the dogs retreated. The guard was convinced and gave him the girl. When the group of supervisors came, the guard bribed them with the money. Eventually, the money was used up, and it was publicized what had happened. They arrested the guard and sentenced him to death by hanging. They tied the rope around his neck and he said, “god of Meir - answer me!” The rope tore, much to everyone’s amazement. He told them the incident, and they went after R' Meir. The guard was saved.<ref name="Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNess Biography">(http://judaicaplus.com/tzadikim/tz_viewer.cfm?page=meir.htm&t=Rabbi%20Meir%20Ba'al%20HaNess http://judaicaplus.com/tzadikim/tz_viewer.cfm?page=meir.htm&t=Rabbi%20Meir%20Ba'al%20HaNess)</ref> - From then on, a tradition has remained that when a Jew finds himself, in any sort of crisis, he gives charity for the benefit of torah students in Israel, which ever yeshivah it may be, and dedicates the charity in memory of R' Meir Baal Haneis (or Hanes). He then says, “god of Meir - answer me! god of Meir - answer me!” and in that merit will hopefully have salvation from his crisis. Several famous charitable foundations exist today which use his name and likeness such as the Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant charity which was founded in 1860 by Rabbi ((Shmuel Salant)) (1816-1909) who served as the ((Chief Rabbi)) of ((Jerusalem)) from 1878 to 1906. This stems from a ((segulah)) in which Rabbi Meir proclaimed that he would personally intercede in heaven on behalf of whomever would give ((Tzedakah|charity)) to the poor of the land of ((Land of Israel|Israel)) in his merit. + From then on, a tradition has remained that when a Jew finds himself, in any sort of crisis, he gives charity for the benefit of torah students in Israel, which ever yeshivah it may be, and dedicates the charity in memory of R' Meir Baal Haneis (or Hanes). He then says, “god of Meir - answer me! god of Meir - answer me!” and in that merit will hopefully have salvation from his crisis . This prayer is also known as an aid in finding lost objects . Several famous charitable foundations exist today which use his name and likeness such as the Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant charity which was founded in 1860 by Rabbi ((Shmuel Salant)) (1816-1909) who served as the ((Chief Rabbi)) of ((Jerusalem)) from 1878 to 1906. This stems from a ((segulah)) in which Rabbi Meir proclaimed that he would personally intercede in heaven on behalf of whomever would give ((Tzedakah|charity)) to the poor of the land of ((Land of Israel|Israel)) in his merit. ==Discussion== ==Discussion==