MEIR, Jewish rabbi of the 2nd century, was born in Asia Minor and according to legend was a descendant of the family of Nero. He was the most notable of the disciples of Aqiba (q.v.), and after the Hadrianic repressions of A.D. 135 was instrumental in refounding the Palestinian schools at Usha. Among his teachers was also Elisha ben Abuya (q.v.), and Melr continued his devo tion to Elisha after the latter's apostasy. He is said to have visited Rome to rescue his wife's sister. His wife, Beruriah, a daughter of the martyr Ijananiah ben Teradion, is often cited in the Talmud as an exemplar of generosity and faith. Melr himself was the author of many famous sayings. His wisdom was proverbial, and to him was in particular assigned an intimate acquaintance with fables, and he is reported to have known 30o Fox-Fables. "With the death of Rabbi Meir," says the Mishnah (Sots ix. 15), "Fabulists ceased to be." MeIr contributed largely to the material from which finally emerged the Mishnah. His dialectic skill was
excessive, and it was said jestingly of him that he could give 150 reasons to prove a thing clean, and as many more to prove it unclean. His balanced judgment fitted him to carry on Aqiba's work, sifting and arranging the oral traditions, and thus preparing the ground for the Mishnaic Code. MeIr left Palestine some time before his death, owing to disagreements between him and the Patriarch. He died in Asia Minor, but his love for the Holy Land remained dominant to the last. "Bury me," he said, "by the shore, so that the sea which washes the land of my fathers may touch also my bones." See Bacher, Agada der Tannaiten, vol. ii. ch. 1. Graetz, History of the Jews (Eng. trans.), vol. ii. ch. xvi.; Jewish Encyclopedia (whence some of the above cited sayings are quoted), viii. 432-435. On Mar's place in the history of the fable, see J. Jacobs, The Fables of Aesop, 1. cxi., etc. (See Index s.v.)