Nagykaroly, 1884.
The Gaon Rabbi Meir Perles (1811-1894), disciple of the Chatam Sofer, was the son-in-law of Rabbi Yitzchak Fränkel Bach Rabbi of Santov and Karaly. Following his father-in-law’s passing, he succeeded him in 1835 as rabbi of Karaly, until his own demise. In his youth, he still merited studying in Pressburg under the Chatam Sofer for approximately six months, and in this short period he earnt his teacher’s affection. His teacher the Chatam Sofer described the great pleasure he took in studying his novellae, which he composed at the young age of 18: "…the outstanding student, … Meir, of holy descent… my eyes lit up with his sharp pilpul and great erudition, how he connects various topics… I will not refrain from responding to him and showing my love for him…" (see: Kinstlicher, HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, pp. 309-310).
In Karaly, he headed a prominent yeshiva, where he edified many students, including leading Hungarian rabbis. R. Meir was exceptionally diligent, and in his will, he requested to inscribe on his epitaph: "Here lies Meir Perles, who fulfilled ‘you shall study it day and night’, from his early youth until the end of his life" (Hagahot Mohari Kert, Bnei Brak 1961, pp. 170-171).
Until 1873, R. Meir was amongst those who advocated for the schism in Hungarian Jewry, but in 1873, he changed his opinion on the matter, and joined those who categorically opposed the schism. The zealots did not forgive him for this move, harassing and persecuting him for it (Alei Zikaron, 43, Shevat 2018, p. 7; 45, Nisan 2018).
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