In this class we speak about Rabbi Meir, who compiled a version of proto-Mishna which Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi used as the basis for his mishna.
Rabbi Meir was a student of both Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael. He was married to Beruriah, daughter of one of the Ten Martyrs, Rabbi Chananiah ben Teradyon.
There is a tradition that he was a descendant of Emperor Nero (hence Rabbi Meir’s other name of Rabbi Nehorai). He also became known as Acherim, as a punishment for his impudence towards Rabban Shimon ben Gamilel.
Rabbi Meir was a scribe by profession, and his version of the Torah was slightly different than the one we have today.
Even though he was the greatest rabbi of his generation, the halakah almost never follows his opinion because he and his students were too brilliant for the other rabbis to understand.
There are stories of Rabbi Meir working miracles, but he is almost certainly not “Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes” (Rabbi Meir the Miracle Worker) who is buried in Tiberias. However, the prayer recited to help find lost objects is attributed to Rabbi Meir.