Last week on 21 Av was the Hilulah of Rav Meir Shlomo ztvk”l in the Ponevitch Cemetery in Bnei Brak. Below is a short biography and the words of Rav Berland Shlit”a about his greatness:
Rav Meir Shlomo was born in the year 5717 (1957) in the city of Petah Tikva, where he grew up and learned. Already in high school, they saw that he was destined for greatness. He continued his learning in the faculty of electronics in Haifa, and specialized mainly in the area of electomagnetic fields. Afterwards, he was drafted into the army. After his release from the army, he drew close to Chasidut Breslov and the light of Rabbi Nachman. After a period of time, he began to listen to the shiurim of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender and other Breslov leaders, and of course, he automatically connected to our Rebbe Rav Eliezer Berland shlit”a and drew from him most of his wisdom, fear of Heaven, and Torah. He went to learn in Yeshivat HaNegev, and there he drew close to the Baba Sali.
After his marriage, he moved to Bnei Brak, where he began his way as a Magid Shiur in the Kollel Breslov of Rav Natan Tzvi Koenig ztvk”l. Within a short time, his name became known beyond the walls of the Beit Midrash, and many would come to hear his fascinating shiurim. At the time, he began to go out to the people in the fields and returned thousands to their heritage. He established Yeshivat Breslov Magdiel for the religious Zionist community and Yeshivat Breslov Birchat Avraham for young men in Pardes Katz in Bnei Brak. His many shiurim were distributed in the media and on disks which were distributed throughout Israel, causing thousands to return to Judaism in his merit.
With the beginning of the controversy against Rav Berland shlit”a, he came out strongly against the Rav’s opponents saying that Rav Berland shlit”a, in the merit of the disparagement that he receives, is saving the Jewish people from a Holocaust. Rav Meir Shlomo participated in all the rallies which were organized for the success of Rav Berland shlit”a.
In his last years, he became seriously ill, and in Adar 5777 (2017), he travelled together with his family to New York to stay by the side of his wife, Rabbanit Esther Shomo a”h. However, on 21 Nisan, she returned her soul to her Creator. After his wife’s passing, he fell ill and was hospitalized outside Israel. After a very difficult series of treatments, he returned to Israel shortly before Tisha B’Av and was hospitalized in Hadassa Ein Kerem Hospital. After Tisha B’Av, his condition deteriorated, and on Sunday 21 Av, he returned his pure soul to his Creator, with his family and followers around his bed.
Thousands escorted him on his last journey, which departed from the Beit Midrash. Rav Berland, who at the time was staying in prison, eulogized him by way of telephone, and mourned his passing. In the eulogy, Rav Berland made a startling statement: “With his death, he atones for the Jewish people, he sweetens all the decrees. Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov came out to greet him; all the Tzaddikim of all the generations came out to greet him. If only my death would be instead of you…” He was buried in the Ponevitch Cemetery in Bnei Brak, next to Rav Yehuda Zev Leibovitz tzvk”l.
After his passing, his sons and students established the “Meir La’aretz” institute for distributing his shiurim and writings which remained after his passing.
Below is a statement from Rav Berland shlit”a regarding his greatness:
Yahrzeit of Rav Meir Shlomo
The Rav Gaon, and Tzaddik Meir Shlomo ztvk”l, who was an aspect of Mashiach ben David, as is written “A staff will emerge from the stump of Yishai = 764, and a shoot will sprout from his roots,” and he merited to the shadow of faith = 764, because in his days, there was supposed to be the complete redemption, “For in this year, the righteous Redeemer will come and redeem us” = 764, and in his merit, may we merit to the revelation of “David ben Yishai, Your Mashiach” = 764, and to the revelation of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai = 764.
For the Rav, Gaon, and Tzaddik Meir Shomo ztvk”l merited that all the Tzadikim from all the generation came into him in ibur (spiritual impregnation), among them, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the Holy Ari, the Baal Shem Tov, and our holy and awesome Rebbe [Rebbe Nachman of Breslov]. And therefore, he merited to what no other Tzaddik in his generation merited to; and almost, if he had still been living, he would have returned the entire generation in repentance. May his memory be blessed.
