Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira Tiferes Chaim (Iyar 15, 5609 / 1849 - 175th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Avi Ezri Zelig Shapira av beis din Greinitz and Perel Margalis. Born around תקמ''ט. His father was son-in-law and his mother was the daughter of the Kozhnitzer Maggid. He himself was the son-in-law of Rav Elazar, the son of the Rebbe Reb Meilech of Lizensk.
His birth was a miracle that came about through the berachah of the Berditchever Rav, the Kedushas Levi. (This is told in the stories below.) The Berditcher said the child would one day illuminate the entire world, and named him Meir, but as a segulah for a long life added Chaim before, and Yechiel after. Thus, he was named Chaim Meir Yechiel.
In his youth he became gravely ill and when they recited his name before the Chozeh, asking him to daven for the sick child, he said: “I see that he will be the future leader of the Kozhnizter dynasty.”
He was a disciple of the Chozeh, the Apta Rav, the Ohev Yisroel, and his uncle Rav Moshe of Kozhnitz. He was also a colleague of the Chiddushei haRim of Ger. He began leading a community in תקפ''ה and his beis medrash in Mogolintza quickly became a large chassidic center in Poland. Due to his fiery kedusha he was nicknamed the fiery angel, or seraph.
Before his passing, he told Rav Yaakov Dovid of Amshinov, “I had a vision and saw my rebbe and other tzaddikim. My rebbe told me to prepare, for up in Gan Eden they are honoring me to say the derasha for parashas Emor.
He passed away on 15 Iyar תר''ט laid to rest in Warsaw. Me’Oros Kedushas Levi pp. 450-451
