Rabbi Meir - Tomb in Tiberias

Tomb in Tiberias

Although Rabbi Meir died outside of the Land of Israel, he was brought to Tiberias (the same city where his well-known teacher Rabbi Akiva is buried) and buried there in a standing position near the Kinneret. It is said that he asked to be buried this way so when the Final Redemption occurs, Rabbi Meir would be spared the trouble of arising from his grave and could just walk out to greet the Jewish Messiah. He requested that he be buried in Eretz Yisrael by the seashore so that the water that washes the shores should also lap his grave (Jerusalem Talmud, Kelaim 9:4). Visitors to his grave traditionally recite Tehillim and a special prayer. Every year, thousands of Jews make pilgrimage to his grave to receive blessings for health and success, in particular on his yahrtzeit (anniversary of his death) the 14th of Iyar, which is also Pesach Sheni (known as the holiday of the 'second chance').

Rabbis of the Mishnah : Chronology & Hierarchy
Teacher→Student Father→Son
Hillel Shammai
Rabban Gamliel Yochanan ben Zakai
Shimon ben Gamliel Yose the Galilean Eliezer ben Hurcanus Yehoshua ben Hananiah Elazar ben Arach Elazar ben Azariah
Gamaliel of Yavne Elisha ben Abuyah Akiva Ishmael ben Elisha Tarfon
Shimon ben Gamliel II Meir Yehudah Yose ben Halafta Shimon bar Yochai Elazar ben Shammua Natan
Yehudah ha Nasi Hiyya

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    Be mine the tomb that swallowed up Pharaoh and all his hosts; let me lie down with Drake, where he sleeps in the sea.
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