Meir Galil HaElyon (Hardcover) / מאיר גליל העליון

The Holy Site of Meron

The Holy Site of Meron (Atra Kadisha Meron). Three simple words that possess the power to ignite souls and set spirits aflame, allowing one to delight in the love and awe of His Blessed Name, sheltered under the "shadow of faith" (Tzila de-Meheimanuta) of the divine Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Meron is the place toward which the eyes of tens of thousands of Jews from all corners of the globe are lifted. There is not a soul in Israel who is not bound heart and spirit to this highest of peaks, which our master, the holy Ohr HaChaim (may his merit protect us), so wondrously described upon ascending the mountain for the Hillula of Bar Yochai:

"A place of flaming fire; the Holy One, Blessed be He, and all the Heavenly Entourage are here, and all the souls of the righteous are there."

The Appointment of a Young Leader

Through a rare and wondrous merit, Divine Providence directed the young steps of the Tzaddik and Sage, Rabbi Meir Zeev Stern (of righteous memory), to be crowned with the crown of the rabbinate in Moshav Meron during his youth—a historic and exceptional phenomenon in its own right.

From that moment on, his soul became inextricably bound to the sanctity of the place, becoming an inseparable part of his essence, his personality, and his legacy. May this man truly be remembered for good, for it was through his sublime and monumental deeds, carried out with complete self-sacrifice over many decades, that Moshav Meron underwent a profound spiritual revolution and transformed beyond recognition:

• From a remote, isolated village into the vital center of life for millions of the Jewish people.

• From a spiritual wasteland into the Atra Kadisha Meron in the fullest sense of the word and the deepest depth of its meaning.

A Lasting Spiritual Revolution

The influence of Rabbi M. Stern extended across all the surrounding settlements, which were illuminated by his presence during his decades of rabbinical leadership throughout the entire Merom HaGalil region of the Upper Galilee. The spiritual revolution of Meron did not pass them by; they too experienced a spiritual revival in the core foundations of Yiddishkeit—from kosher supervision and ritual baths (mikvaot) to sending their children to pure, sacred Torah educational institutions.

The chapters of this book bear witness to the vibrant and fascinating life's work of Rabbi M. Stern, which is seamlessly interwoven with the rich, historic tapestry of Moshav Meron and the Galilee region. Within these pages lie paths of life for both the community and the individual on how to:

• Cling to sacred principles and walk confidently on the path of truth without compromise.

• Maintain pure faith in the Creator at every single step.

• Remain devoted to the great sages and Tzaddikim of the generation.

• Forge deep connections with the majestic spiritual figures of Meron and its surroundings.

These chapters of life and ethical teachings (mussar) serve as foundational cornerstones for every single Jew, wherever they may be, inspiring us to "take from it to serve Hashem our God."