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Photo credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
When he finishes, there is a tap on his
shoulder. It is Rabbi Schuster, asking
him, “Do you have the time?”
continued from page 16
and they started going back every
afternoon during their breaks from
yeshiva to speak with more young
men. They encountered about 15
young men in the first two weeks,
bringing some back to Reb Meir’s
house for a Shabbos seuda.
At first it was Reb Chaim doing the
talking, but then Reb Meir started
taking over. He began to do it very
well, as if this was natural for him.
After those two weeks, Reb Meir took
over completely, and he continued his
vigil at the Kotel for the next 40 years.
Day in, day out, feeling sick, with a
sprained ankle, in the hottest weather
and the coldest, in the rain and in
the snow, as a pure chesed, receiving
no monetary payment, he was there.
Being soaking wet for hours was of
no importance to Reb Meir because
he was searching with the utmost
determination for any neshamas he
could possibly tap that were ripe for
finding fulfillment.
The Secret of His Success
As one of his “recruits” put it: “He
did all this for 40 years – not with a
silver tongue – but by being real. And
‘real’ trumps a silver tongue every
time.” People think they need to be a
charismatic charmer to be successful
at reaching people, but it was Reb
Meir’s pure earnestness that found its
way into another’s heart, gently and
directly.
Reb Meir would typically ask both
men and women if they wanted to
attend a class or come for a Shabbos
meal. He would often wait after class
for the person or come back the next
day to get their feedback. He would
travel on several buses to help someone
collect their things so that it would be
easier for them to return for more
studies. He would remain in touch
with as many individuals as he could,
sending cards of encouragement that
managed to make major impacts even thousands of miles away. As one
who was “pursued” by Reb Meir for
years and years said, “No one cared
more deeply about a soul than Reb
Meir Schuster.”
Reb Meir, in a way, brings to mind
Moshe Rabeinu, who was determined
to overcome his most glaring weakness
of being a shy and awkward speaker in
order to fulfill his role for the Jewish
people. His wife said that Reb Meir’s
most over-riding characteristic was his
unwavering belief in syata d’Shmaya
- the unimaginable assistance that is
possible from the Soul of Souls. She
saw how her husband went against all
odds to do what he did.
Rav Noach Weinberg, of blessed
memory, agreed, saying that if Reb
Meir could do kiruv, then anyone – no
matter how shy or reserved – could do
kiruv. As such, he was a model that
inspired a generation of others who
didn’t think they had “the right stuff ”
to pursue kiruv.
Rebbetzin Schuster also said,
“When he decided to do something,
he did it ‘ad ha sof.’ He wouldn’t give
up until the end. When he was barely
able to even walk anymore, he still
wanted to go to England to raise funds
for the Heritage House , and nothing
could stand in his way because every
action he did, he did l’shem Shamyaim.
And he never got involved in any kind
of politics.”
The souls who descend into this
world spend most of their time on
Feb 28, 2014
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