Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz zt"l

A few months ago I spent the weekend at a convention with Rabbi Zlotowitz. We sat together at a table with my boss, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz and our spouses. After a nice dinner and shmoozing, he came over to me and said quietly, "Chayale, If Pinny ever mistreats you, you come straight to me and I'll hire you."

We had a real Kesher.

I have the honor to speak to some very important people on behalf of my boss, and Rabbi Zlotowitz was one of those I would look forward to conversing with. He was smart, and honest, and always had a nice and encouraging word for me.

As much as he was Klal Yisroel’s rebbi in Torah, he was a teacher in what it means to live a life fulfilling a shlichus, a sense of mission. He portrayed the gift of being able to understand and follow the messages sent from Heaven. He was all about hearing the call to action and coming forward.

Rabbi Zlotowitz, you made us better people. You brought us together because you lived bigger. You elevated us by making Torah accessible and beautiful, and connected us to its pages. You were a national treasure uniting us in the shared joy of Torah.

Your name, R' Meir, means to illuminate. You showed us how a regular indivual can light up the world with the light of Torah, clarity in halacha and hashkofah, the light of your smile and personality and kindness. You were brilliant in so many ways and used that brilliance to light up tens of thousands of lives.

A light has been extinguished.

You are missed.