Meir Chadash

Not to be confused with Chaim Meir Chodosh.

Meir HaLevi Chodosh (Hebrew: מאיר הלוי חדש; alternatively transliterated as Meir Chadash) (19 February 1898 - 6 January 1989) was the mashgiach of the Hebron Yeshiva and a leading mussar disseminator in the 20th century.

Rabbi Meir Chodosh
Rabbi Meir Chodosh
Personal
Born	Meir Chodosh 19 February 1898 Parychy, Belarus
Died	6 January 1989 (aged 90) Jerusalem, Israel
Religion	Judaism
Nationality	Israeli
Spouse	Tzivia Leah Hutner
Parent(s)	Ben Tzion and Machla Chodosh
Denomination	Orthodox Judaism
Occupation	Rabbi, Mashgiach Ruchani
Yahrtzeit	27 Shvat 5658
Buried	Jerusalem
Residence	Jerusalem, Israel

Chodosh was a talmid muvhak (primary disciple) of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (often referred to as the "Alter (elder) of Slabodka"). His strength was described as "adaptation and modification" of the Alter's teachings to "the nascent yeshiva world of Eretz Yisroel" both before and especially "after the war." (World War II)

Biography

Rabbi Chodosh (left) at the founding of the Global Daf Yomi Initiative

Rabbi Meir Chodosh was born in the town of Paritch in the Minsk Governorate within the Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire (present-day Belarus) to Rabbi Ben-Tzion and Machelah Chodosh. At the age of 11, he began studying at a yeshiva for younger students in Shklov, headed at the time by Rabbi Pesach Pruskin. After two years, he was accepted into the Slabodka Yeshiva and became a close disciple of the "Alter of Slabodka," Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, whose discourses he edited and published in the book Or HaTzafon. He was also close to the yeshiva's mashgiach, Rabbi Avraham Grodzinski, who greatly influenced his personality.

At age 16, his father immigrated to the United States intending to bring the rest of the family over. However, the outbreak of World War I separated them. During this time, his mother passed away suddenly, and the responsibility for his younger brother and sister fell upon him. During the war, he narrowly escaped execution by a Russian firing squad after being caught without identification papers.

In 1926, he immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, joining a group of students opening a branch of the Slabodka Yeshiva in Hebron during the summer of that year. Despite being young, he was permitted to attend the discourses of the Alter of Slabodka. During the 1929 Hebron massacre, he survived miraculously while lying beneath the dead bodies of his fellow students. Later, when questioned about how he managed to remain composed during the massacre, Rabbi Meir responded:

"I recited Viduy five times and believed that if Hashem wanted me to live, I would survive the riots, too."

In the 1930s, after the passing of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Chasman in 1936, Rabbi Chodosh was appointed as the yeshiva's mashgiach (spiritual advisor).

Students at Hebron Yeshiva once gathered with Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, a fellow alumnus of the Slobodka Yeshiva, who provided a detailed account of the Alter of Slobodka and his personality. Rabbi Kamenetsky even replicated the Alter’s gestures, speech, and expressions. The students later expressed astonishment at how closely Rabbi Kamenetsky’s descriptions matched the personality and demeanor of Rabbi Chodosh. During a visit to Israel, Rabbi Kamenetsky himself noted the striking resemblance between Rabbi Chodosh and the Alter. Similarly, Rabbi Dov Katz, another Slobodka alumnus and author of Tenuas HaMussar, once responded to a remark that hearing Chodosh was like being in the presence of the Alter. Katz said:

"Even with my eyes open, I see the Alter in every detail."

Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna described Rav Meir Chodosh’s relationship with the Alter of Slabodka as akin to the bond between Yehoshua bin Nun and Moshe Rabbeinu. The Alter not only valued Rav Meir’s dedication but also relied on him for critical tasks, eventually appointing him as a confidant and key figure in overseeing the yeshiva’s operations. At one time, the two had a chavrusa to learn Tur together.

Rabbi S. Greineman recounted that the Chazon Ish once requested to review the notes he had taken from Rav Meir Chodosh’s inaugural va’ad (ethical discourse). After examining the notes, the Chazon Ish remarked that a great mashgiach was emerging.

In his later years, Rabbi Chodosh also served as mashgiach at the Ateret Yisrael Yeshiva, founded by his son-in-law, Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, and at the Ohr Elchanan Yeshiva, established by his son, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Chodosh. Additionally, he delivered lectures at Yeshivat Tiferet HaTorah.

Rabbi Meir Chodosh passed away on the 29th of Tevet, 5749 (January 6, 1989) and was buried in the Hebron Yeshiva section of the Mount of Olives Cemetery. His son, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Chodosh, established Yeshivat "Knesset Meir" in Rishon Lezion in his memory. A street named "Rabbi Meir Chodosh" in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem commemorates him, as well as the "Ramat Meir" neighborhood in Modiin Illit.

Family

Rabbi Meir Chodosh was married to Tzivia, the daughter of Rabbi Naftali Menachem Hutner, one of the rabbis of Eishyshok, and the son of Rabbi Yosef Zundel Hutner of Eishyshok. After immigrating to Mandatory Palestine, Tzivia initially lived with her cousin, Chava Leah Kook, the wife of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaCohen Kook, and later moved to live in the home of her uncle, the head of the Hebron Yeshiva.

Tzivia Chodosh's mother, Kraina, was the sister of Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein, the head of the Slabodka Yeshiva.

Rabbi Chodosh's brother, Rabbi David Chodosh, served for many years as a lecturer at Yeshivat HaYishuv HeChadash.

Children

• Rabbi Aharon Chodosh (passed away in 5781) – son-in-law of Rabbi Chaim Ze'ev Finkel (the son of Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel) and served as mashgiach at Yeshivat Mir.
• Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Chodosh (passed away on the 28th of Tammuz, 5776) – served as the head of Yeshivat Ohr Elchanan.
• Rabbi Naftali Chodosh – son-in-law of Rabbi Pesach Kokis, the former rabbi of Bat Yam (and son-in-law of Rabbi Raphael Katzenellenbogen). He serves as mashgiach at Yeshivat Ohr Elchanan.
• Rabbi Yosef Chodosh – one of his sons-in-law, Rabbi David Salomon, is the head of Yeshivat Nachalat David and married to Rabbi Chodosh's daughter Atara. Another son-in-law, Rabbi Nachum Kastner, is a lecturer at Yeshivat Mir.
• Shulamit Ezrachi (passed away in 5783) – married to Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, the head of Yeshivat Ateret Yisrael. She authored several biographies, including one about her father and family, interwoven with the story of the Hebron Yeshiva.

Students

• His son-in-law, Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, head of Yeshivat Ateret Yisrael.
• Rabbi Achikam Shevach, head of Yeshivat Ohr Elchanan for young students in Tiberias ("Yeshivat Tveria").
• Rabbi Yeshayahu Hadari, former head of Yeshivat HaKotel.
• Rabbi Yaakov Betzalel Zolty, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem.
• Rabbi Yitzhak Haim Peretz, former chairman of Shas and Minister of Interior, as well as rabbi of Ra'anana.
• Former MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz.
• Rabbi Yeshayahu Hadar Glazman, a leader of Yeshivat Ateret Yisrael.
• Rabbi David Avraham, head of Yeshivat Binyan Av in Jerusalem.
• Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Auerbach, rabbi of Ramat Chen.
• Rabbi Zvi Zvielli, a leader at Kollel Nachalat Moshe.
• Rabbi Yonah Dvirat, former rabbi of the Mevo Horon community.
• Rabbi Zamir Cohen, head of Yeshivat Avnei Nezer and chairman of the Hidabroot organization.
• Rabbi Yaakov Benbenishti, lecturer at Yeshivat Rekhasim.

Students Serving as Spiritual Directors in Yeshivot

• Rabbi Matityahu Stern, spiritual director of Yeshivat Netivot Chochma (Wolfson) in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem.
• Rabbi Zvi Diamant, spiritual director at Yeshivat Or Yisrael.
• Rabbi Shimon Pochovitz, spiritual director at Yeshivat Beit Matisyahu.

Works

After his passing, his essays and lectures were compiled by his students, resulting in the following publications:

• Or Chadash, 5749 (1989)
• Meorot, 5749 (1989)
• Kovetz Sichot VeVaadim, 5749 (1989)
• Kuntres Purim: Kovetz Sichot VeVaadim, 5750 (1990)
• Talmidav Shel Avraham Avinu – A booklet of guidance for students at the beginning of their yeshiva journey, 5754 (1994)
• Meir Netivot, 5754 (1994)
• Or Meir, 5761 (2001)
• Or Olam: Purim, 5769 (2009)
• Or Olam: Chanukah, 5770 (2010)

Further reading

• Shulamit Ezrachi, The Mashgiach – The Overflowing Cup, Feldheim Publishers, 2001.