Rabbi Meir Avtzon

Rabbi Avtzon

Rabbi Meir was born to Rabbi Gershon and Esther in Miragrad, Poltava Province, Russia on 8 Tevet 5669 (1909).

During World War I as a young child, his family's home was hit by a bomb and collapsed. After escaping from the rubble, he went to Rabbi Yona Cohen's house. Despite his young age, Rabbi Yona Cohen allowed him to join his classes. Between 1926-1932, he continued his studies at Tomchei Temimim in Kharkov, and after its closure moved to Tomchei Temimim in Nevel.

As a young man, after the Yevsektsia restricted the yeshiva in Kremenchug and the previous supervisor had to flee, Rabbi Meir was sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to supervise the yeshiva, which was then managed by Rabbi Yisroel Noach Blinitski.

After the Frierdiker Rebbe left Russia in 1927, Rabbi Meir remained in Malakhovka where a vibrant Chabad community developed. His close friends included Rabbi Yaakov of Skalik (Zhuravicher) and Rabbi Avraham Dreizin (Major), who once saved Rabbi Meir during a Yevsektsia pursuit by hiding him in his basement.

In Elul 1935, during the first major wave of NKVD arrests targeting Chassidic activity in Russia, Rabbi Meir was arrested with seven other Chassidim and taken to the Lubyanka secret police headquarters in Moscow. Despite torture by NKVD interrogators demanding information about who organized the cheders and yeshivas, who taught there, and which parents sent their children, Rabbi Meir remained silent. After interrogation he was transferred to Butyrka prison to await sentencing.

The six-page indictment charged Rabbi Meir and his fellow arrested Chassidim with organizing Jewish education for children in cheders and yeshivas in Malakhovka near Moscow, gathering intellectually capable youth to train as teachers, and teaching Talmud and religious practices. While such charges could have resulted in a death sentence, they mercifully received a relatively light sentence of three years exile in Kazakhstan.

Leaving Russia

In 1946, during the famous Lvov exodus, Rabbi Meir left after marrying his wife Chana, daughter of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Krasik. He traveled under the name Chaim Gastholder, which remained with him long after and appears on letters the Rebbe sent him.

He continued to France where five more of his children were born, after his first child was born in Russia.

Life in America

In 1954, Rabbi Meir reached America and settled in Detroit at the Rebbe's direction, focusing on spreading Judaism especially among Russian immigrants. When his wife's seventh pregnancy began, doctors advised against having more children. Rabbi Meir immediately went to the Rebbe who blessed him to have even more children than his current six. Indeed, nine more children were born afterwards.

In Detroit, he worked to spread Judaism among Russian immigrants, housing many in his small 55-square-meter home while they looked for permanent housing. He gave special attention to each person, inspiring many to increase their religious observance. He arranged circumcisions for many Russian immigrants and provided kosher food, holiday programming, and meals.

In 1986, when his wife became ill requiring proper medical care, Rabbi Meir moved to Crown Heights near 770.

Publicizing Moshiach

In the early years of the Rebbe's leadership, when Rabbi Moshe Dubinsky came fundraising in Detroit, a community activist agreed to help on condition that he tell the Rebbe that Rabbi Meir Avtzon was spreading word that the Rebbe is Moshiach. When Rabbi Moshe later reported this to the Rebbe, the Rebbe responded "What can I do if he means it sincerely?"

Even after 3 Tammuz 1994, he continued vigorously publicizing the Rebbe's message of redemption, participating in Moshiach-related gatherings at Lincoln Center and elsewhere.

Passing

In 2002, on 29 Cheshvan, Rabbi Meir was rushed to the hospital for treatment. His condition stabilized after treatment. While his daughter briefly stepped out of the room, he passed away with no one present

Further Reading

• Meir Avtzon, "Lights in the Darkness" - Rabbi Avtzon's personal story, New York, 1988
• Yona Avtzon (editor), "Letters to a Chassid" - Letters sent to Rabbi Avtzon by our Rebbes and Chassidim, New York 1996