About Us
The purpose of this website is to document the legendary and historic achievements of Reb Meir Schuster; to create a place where the countless “Reb Meir stories” can be told, preserved, and shared – where the legend can continue to inspire.
This website will always be a work in progress: It is our hope that you will share your own story here and share this site with your friends. In that way, this “home” of Reb Meir stories will grow; it will inspire - and it will give recognition, honor and support to Reb Meir and his family.
Who are we? We are ten men and women (more or less) whose lives have been forever transformed by an encounter with Rabbi Schuster. Each of us feels… a deep sense of appreciation to Reb Meir. When we learned of his health challenges, and that they were largely unknown to so many who care deeply about him, we resolved to create this Tribute Website.
Most of our “Group of 10” had never met one another or even spoken by phone. We came together by one friend reaching out to the next. And that is exactly what this website is about. Our hope is that our “Group of 10” will grow to include you – and every person whose life was touched by Reb Meir.
Each of us has only come to know a sliver, at most, of who Reb Meir is. Collectively, we now have the opportunity to build a true picture of the man. After all, we are his life’s work.
Story of the Week
Generations Flip with a Tap
by Reb Dov- My story is a long one, but on one leg, in the summer of '88 I went backpacking around Europe alone for about 2 months. I really enjoyed every day, touring through Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium, England, the Isle of Skye in Scotland, France, Italy, and last Switzerland. Before Switzerland, I decided to boat over to Israel to visit some distant relatives. I stayed with them in Herzliya and decided to tour Jerusalem. As I was getting off at the Central Bus Station, a religious person if I had place to go. I kind of ignored him. Arriving a the Kosel, prayed a little, and made my way up the stairs to the Old City. In the middle of the stairs was a peddler selling among other things, knitted kipas. I bought one, put it on, went to the post office to mail a letter, and just then a rabbi (Rabbi Schuster) from behind me said to me in surprise, "I know you from somewhere!" With courtesy I responded in the same tone, and next he asked me if I want to hear a class in Jewish philosophy. Sounded interesting. He took me and a couple of other guys in an old Volvo station wagon through some Arab village. I was getting just a little bit nervous! Immediately after the clear, he pulled up to respectable-looking building, and didn\'t even know what it was! He accompanied us inside directly to an ongoing class, and bid us a warm farewell. Just then I realized that this place was called a yeshiva (Ohr Somayach). I listened to different classes given to people like me off the street. People challenged the speaker, got answers, and was a warm place to be. For the couple of weeks, I stayed at the Heritage House, and every morning someone would come pick several of us up and bring us to Ohr Somayach. The support group at the Heritage House was amazing. One day turned into 2 months, and was time to hit Switzerland. I returned to the States not religious, found a job, and 4 months later spent a weekend in Conn. with a non-Jewish college friend. I told him about my encounter in Israel, and he asked me bluntly "so how come you didn\'t become religious\"? Something struck home the moment he said that and returned home on cloud 9, a different man, found a place near New Jersey to hear more Jewish classes, and by May a year later decided to return religious the same Yeshiva in Jerusalem. There I studied the Torah for 3 straight years, returned on round-trip ticket to NJ for my brother\'s wedding, got married that year, and returned with my born-religious wife back to Jer. the last day of my round-trip ticket. We\'ve been here ever since. Since our wedding in NY, I continued 6 more straight years learning even more Torah (there's no end to Torah knowledge), and returned to work in 2000 and continue to learn in the evenings. Since 2002 I've been working for one of Israel's largest engineering companies on various large construction projects. I'm extremely happy I became religious, for I find the Torah-lifestyle full of happiness, living in a way I can truly say I am doing the will of G-d, fulfilling the ratzon of R' Schuster from our first encounter. During my 3-year stay at the Ohr Somayach, the various times I encountered R' Schuster he invariably appeared to me like a malach (like others have said about him). I even had the zcus to eat several Shabbos seudos with him and his family. His favorite niggun seemed to be Koh Ribbon Olam, for he sung it with such devotion! Halavei i should have the zchus of being m\'karev even a tiny fraction of neshamos R' Schuster returned!! We are so ever-indebted to you!!
A Recent Visit with Reb Schuster Kislev 5773
It has been a long time. Friends from around the world have been asking "how could you not go to visit him....you personally witnessed hundreds if not thousands of people whose lives turned around....". I knew the reason and felt confident they could not receive the answer which actually was at the heart of their request. Working in the Heritage House through out most of the 80's blossomed memories that are still a sacred part of my yiddishkeit. Those of you who were with me can verify that we saw daily miracles. Travelers who did not even know why they came to Israel, get a tap on the shoulder "do you have the time"........ and a few days later are stuffing a pay phone with asimonim informing their parents they staying in Israel to learn about Judaism. This web site has some of those stories which are uplifting and inspiring. And for those in the "Old City" at the time, we actually felt an element of the divine presence while working with R' Schuster. I did not want to risk tarnishing any of those memories by visiting him now. But I am so glad I did B"H.
Especially over the past few years I realized that rumors of Heritage House and R' Schuster are numerous across the vast spectrum of imagination. Nobody intending to be misleading, only possessing an extremely unique vision of happenings. So I prepared myself for possible difficulties but disgarded all the rumors and stories of the situation. I was also totally open for a truly positive experience. I did not prepare enough for that.
Upon entering his room, it only took a few seconds for our eyes to connect. He may not have known exactly who I was at the first intance except he definitely know we have a special bond. LIke I do for anybody who is familiar with thousands of people, I try to avoid embarrassment and I go through my 30 second introduction of who I am and how we know each other. He motioned for my hand but not a hand shake. He wanted to arm wrestle with me. Unquestionably. In fact her persisted until I gave him enough of a struggle that provided a feeling that he was victorious, once again. You see about 4 years ago, I was privledge to share quality time, days and weeks, with R' Schuster. One of the proud moments I was able to squeeze out of his personal mental box of pride, was an occassion where a young basketball player who had been in and out of yeshiva for months and finally told R' Schuster he was returning to the USA. R' Schuster would not hear of it. The student wanted to put it to rest. Being a typical american college minded athlete he thought he would instantly resolve the matter "let's arm wrestle, .... If you win I stay in Yeshiva, otherwise...." Like any other time, R' Schuster would pretty much agree to do anything in order for a Jew to go to Yeshiva. It has been confirmed that R' Schuster dunked him. Not even close contest. At the time I was told the story, he made it clear that it was not his secret visits to the gym ( he may have never been in any sort of gym as far as I know) that brought on that strength but the focus that absolutely any obstacle can be overcome when the goal is to do Hashem's Ratzon. He knew Hashem wanted the yeshiva student to stay and he did, B"H.
Since he told me the story, we pretended to arm wrestle almost every time we met since then as a reminder to each other. Having him respond that way in the hospital, gave me more than I could hope for. He IS still using all of his KOCHOS (power) to convey the message.
Why has Hashem set up this situation with R' Schuster slowly recuperating IYH? Is not a question to address. Our job is continue the push with what ever efforts we can collect to not only do Hashem's Ratzon but also work to reveal that every Jew should feel the reality that he / she is a special gem in the Al-Mighty's crown. That a little more polish with Torah and Mitzvot will make that shine for eternity. Somebody offered a sentence that puts together R' Schuster's message nicely:
"Even small efforts (for Kiddish Hashem) can deliver eternal greatness"
There are yeshivas packed today because years ago a young man asked another "Do you have the time"
How can we, the readers of this website and all of kllal Yisroel, refortifiy this messange and build greater success in the results?
Feel free to send you ideas, and suggestions
Shalom Schwartz's Story
It was February 1974. I was four and a half months into my six month Kibbutz Ulpan program at Ein Dor, a shomer hatzair kibbutz, near Tiberias in northern Israel. I worked extra days on the kibbutz prior to our program’s Jerusalem trip to be able to stay on afterwards in Jerusalem for a long weekend.
The trip included a visit to the Kotel. Everyone was given some time on their own and told when we should return back to the bus to depart. I was not into “holy” places so I checked out the archaeological digs nearby instead, and returned to the bus. We were about to leave and everyone was asked to check if anyone had not yet returned. Sure enough, my roommate was missing so I headed out to the Kotel area to retrieve him.
As I came closer, I saw him in conversation with a tall man in a black hat and suit. I walked behind the man, and signaled my friend that the bus was leaving and that we had to go. Reb Meir turned around and began a conversation... (continued)
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