Rabbi Meir was one of the greatest sages of the Mishnah and a leading student of Rabbi Akiva. The Talmud states that an anonymous ruling in the Mishnah follows Rabbi Meir, so his views underlie much of it. His name, “the one who gives light,” was said to describe how he lit up the eyes of the sages.
His wife Bruriah, daughter of the martyr Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon, was herself a great scholar. He continued to learn from his teacher Elisha ben Avuya even after Elisha left the path of Torah.
The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 18a) tells how he rescued his wife’s sister from Roman captivity by the prayer “God of Meir, answer me!” From this story comes his name Baal HaNes, “master of the miracle,” and the custom of giving charity in his name. According to tradition he is buried in Tiberias.
