Rav Meir Abuchatzeira of Ashdod zt"l
הרב מאיר בן ישראל אבוחצירא זצ"ל
Nissan 17 , 5743
Known As: Baba Meir
Father's Name: Yisroel (Baba Sali) Abuchatzeira
Rav Meir Abuchatzeira of Ashdod zt"l
Rabbi Meir Abuchatzira, popularly called "Baba Meir" (10 Tevet 1917 - 17 Nissan 1983), was the oldest son and designated spiritual successor of the Baba Sali. The Lubavitcher Rebbe indicated in private conversation that he was one of the pillars of the world. He pre-deceased his illustrious father by two years. Born and educated in Tafilalet in Morocco in 1917 (5677) he became one of the most important rabbis of his generation as well as an accomplished Kabbalist. He made aliyah and moved to Ashdod, where, after turning down an offer to be chief rabbi of Yerushalayim, he lived reclusively for the rest of his life. Today, one of his five sons, Rabbi David, chief rabbi of Nahariya, is considered the scion of the Abuhatzeira clan.
http://www.ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=rebbeBios
Stories of Rav Meir Abuchatzeira of Ashdod zt"l
Rav Dovid Chai of Nahariya related how in his younger years his father Rav Meir would sometimes ask him to come into his room and set up his bed or pillows. One time he did so and as he punched the pillow into shape, his father asked him to turn it over. When Rav Dovid did so, he saw a huge scorpion, 20–30 cm in length, crouched with its stinger quivering. His father did not seem scared or troubled.
“Take the pillow to your mother,” he said.
“My mother,” explained Rav Dovid, “was not in the least bit frightened or worried either. No one asked where the scorpion had come from or seemed in the least bit disturbed, or even wondered if there were more like it. We were used to a supernatural existence in my home,” continued Rav Dovid, “and so she simply knocked the scorpion outside, proceeded to change the pillowcase and handed me the pillow!” (Boruch Hashem Yom Yom p. 237)