Reb Meir Shlomo Yanovsky

Reb Meir Shlomo HaLevi Yanovsky (1860 - Elul 23, 1933) served as the Rav of Nikolayev, Ukraine. He was the father of Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe's mother. His parents were Reb Yisroel Leib HaLevi Yanovsky - head of Colel Chabad in Romanovka - and Rebbetzin Beila Rivka, daughter of Reb Avrohom Dovid Lavut.

Life HistoryEdit

Born in 1860 to his parents Yisroel Leib HaLevi and Beila Rivka Yanovsky.

He married Rebbetzin Rachel Yanovsky, daughter of Reb Yitzchok Pushnitz, Rav of Dobrinka near Nikolayev. After his marriage, he lived with his father in Romanovka, where his daughter Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson was born on Teves 28, 1880.

Shortly after his marriage, he spent over six months in Lubavitch with the Rebbe Maharash as one of the "zitzers" (full-time learners) until the Rebbe Maharash's passing in 1883.

After returning from the Rebbe Maharash, he lived with his grandfather - Reb Avrohom Dovid Lavut, author of "Shaar HaKolel" and Rav of Nikolayev - until his passing (on Elul 18, 1890), who raised and educated him like a son.

Reb Meir Shlomo also spent time with the Rebbe Rashab.

His father Reb Yisroel Leib Yanovsky passed away in 1884.

In 1886, his only son was born and named after his father, Yisroel (Aryeh) Leib. In 1901, the son passed away from typhus. This caused him great pain and anguish, to the point where he couldn't engage in any activities. Because of this, the Rebbe Rashab sent him a letter of consolation (on Nissan 9, 1901).

Rav of NikolayevEdit

Before his grandfather Reb Avrohom Dovid Lavut's passing, he left a letter with the Nikolayev community leaders requesting they appoint his grandson Reb Meir Shlomo as his successor (since his father passed away young, during his father-in-law's lifetime). After his grandfather's passing, the community leaders promptly fulfilled their Rav's request, and Reb Meir Shlomo was appointed as Rav of Nikolayev.

About HimEdit

Reb Meir Shlomo was a great genius in both nigleh and chassidus, a lover of peace who fled from honor. He was also a wonderful musician with great musical sensitivity. When he would sing, the melody would penetrate deep into the heart and even a heart of stone would melt. He composed several Chabad nigunim, one of them being the nigun "Rachamana D'anei". (The nigunim appear in Sefer HaNigunim and some were recorded on a disc produced by his townsman Shmuel Betzalel Althaus). He also composed the RG nigun.

Reb Meir Shlomo once contracted typhus himself - a disease that claimed many victims in that period when they couldn't find the appropriate cure. Because of this, and to prevent its spread, the authorities would take the sick to an isolated quarantine camp far from the city. Without medicine for their illness, these unfortunate ones would writhe in pain until their passing R"L. Except for a doctor who would visit them once a day and give them medicine to quiet their pain, no one had any access to them. Thus they would pass away lonely and isolated in their final days and years on earth. Like all others, he too - Reb Meir Shlomo - was taken to the quarantine camp far from the city, alone, isolated and helpless. When his faithful friend Reb Asher Grossman learned of this, he rushed to the quarantine camp with a Tanya in hand. Unable to enter his room, Reb Asher stood by the door and began reading aloud chapter 11 of Igeres HaKodesh which begins with the words "Lehaskil'cha Binah". This letter explains that no evil descends from above, and one should rejoice at all times and moments in their faith in Hashem who does good with them at every moment etc., and one who believes will not feel any suffering in the world and everything is completely good etc. After finishing the reading, Reb Asher left the place and returned home. This scene repeated itself for thirty consecutive days - every day he would leave the city to the closed camp and read aloud the aforementioned Tanya chapter. Eventually he recovered from the illness and related that after hearing the Tanya chapter, he felt his condition improving and felt better.

His PassingEdit

He passed away on Elul 23, 1933 in Nikolayev. After his passing, his son-in-law Reb Shmuel Schneerson (the Rebbe's uncle) succeeded him as Rav of Nikolayev.

His wife Rebbetzin Rachel Yanovsky was murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust on Tishrei 24, 1941.

His Grandson the RebbeEdit

While Reb Levi Yitzchok was supported by his father-in-law, his firstborn son, the Rebbe, was born on Nissan 11, 1902.

The bris milah took place on Nissan 18, Chol HaMoed Pesach (which was also his father RLY"Tz's birthday) in his grandfather Reb Meir Shlomo Yanovsky's house in Nikolayev, Ukraine. Reb Levik celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday that day. Many Nikolayev Jews participated in this great simcha and heard divrei Torah from the baby's grandfather and from his father - Reb Levi Yitzchok - who spoke at length about the connection between the two events that occurred that day. It is told that among those invited to the bris seudah was the chossid Reb Asher Grossman, shochet of Nikolayev. However, since he was strict about not eating outside his home (as was the custom of chassidim), he didn't taste anything from the served meal. When Reb Meir Shlomo noticed Reb Asher's conduct, he was disappointed and said to him: "Asher! In truth you deserve rebuke because by me you are allowed to eat. But what can I do, I cannot rebuke you since you once saved my life."

The Rebbe would stay at his grandfather's home during his childhood years, for several weeks at the end of the summer months, and his wife Rebbetzin Rachel would care for the Rebbe.

The Rebbe taught one of his grandfather's nigunim on the words from Selichos "Rachamana D'anei" on Simchas Torah 1959.

His Name - Meir ShlomoEdit

At the farbrengen of Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech - Elul 23 - 1989, the Rebbe explained at length the meaning of the name "Meir Shlomo": "...So we find with the baal hahilula Reb Meir Shlomo, that on one hand he was in a state of elevation and loftiness being among the 'yoshvim' by the Rebbe Maharash, and on the other hand he was a moreh hora'ah in Nikolayev and had to rule on halacha and give advice even in matters of business, interact with the government and so forth.

However these two aspects were not contradictory for him, but rather, his merit as a 'yoshev' by the Rebbe Maharash continued throughout his life and all his work in leading the city was founded and permeated with his being a 'yoshev'."

In several other farbrengens the Rebbe mentioned his grandfather's combined names, and in a note to a general letter the Rebbe refers to him with the title 'HaRav HaTzadik'.

Once the Rebbe turned to Reb Meir Shlomo Yunik, pointed at him and said with a smile: "You probably know that you are named after my grandfather." When the Rebbe said "my" he pointed to himself.

The Rebbe would say Kaddish on his grandfather's yahrtzeit.

His FamilyEdit

Wife: Rebbetzin Rachel Yanovsky, daughter of Reb Yitzchok Pushnitz, Rav of Dobrinka.

Daughter: Rebbetzin Chana, wife of Reb Levi Yitzchok Schneerson Rav of Yekaterinoslav - the Rebbe's mother.

Son: Yisroel Aryeh Leib Yanovsky - born in 1886 and passed away at age fifteen from typhus.

Daughter: Rebbetzin Miriam Gittel Schneerson wife of Reb Shmuel Schneerson.

Daughter: Mrs. Ettil wife of Reb Zalman Mariashin. In 1941 she fled to Ufa, Russia where she passed away.