Rav Chaim Meir was born on 15 Kislev 5648/1888, the son of Rav Yisrael Hager of Vizhnitz, also known as Ahavas Yisrael.
He became the son-in-law of Rav Zev Twerski of Rachumstrivka, descended from the Czernobyl dynasty.
Rav Chaim Meir was his father’s right-hand man from a young age and they were inseparable. Even after his marriage, when he lived in Rachumstrivka, he often visited his father and eventually the Rebbetzin followed him and they returned to live near the Ahavas Yisrael. His father greatly loved and admired him, calling him a Ba’al Shem Tov’s Yid.
He received semicha from Rav Sholom Mordechai Shwadron, the Maharsham of Brezhan. He was appointed Rav of Vilchovitch in Marmorosh. Even during this tenure he spent more time with his father than he did in his own city. Nonetheless, he was a successful, bright and smart Rav, whose intelligence led him to establish many successful takonos.
In 5695 he visited Eretz Yisrael along with his brothers, Rav Eliezer of Vizhnitz and Rav Boruch of Seret. They visited many places and he returned with a positive feeling. After his father’s petira in 5696 he became his chief successor. He settled in Grossvardein, where his father had lived and had run his Chassidic court and Bais Medrash. In 5700 his Bais Medrash became a center for refugees fleeing Poland, and all were welcomed, despite the dangers.
Eventually, he went underground and when Grossvardein became too dangerous he fled to Rumania, eventually reaching Arad and Bucharest, where he remained until Grossvardein was liberated and the war ended.
He spent the post-war period reviving, rejuvenating and strengthening his downtrodden brethren and the refugees and survivors, warming their hearts and encouraging them to return to Chassidus and to spread Yiddishkeit from town to town and from city to city.
He decided to move to Eretz Yisrael and traveled from Czechoslovakia to Belgium and England. He arrived in 5708 and established Vizhnitz on the soil of the Holy Land. His brother Rav Eliezer was niftar in Elul 5706. Rav Chaim Meir opened his Bais Medrash in Tel Aviv. Eventually, he established the first Chassidic enclave in Bnei Brak, reopened the Vizhnitzer Yeshiva and began to reestablish Vizhnitz and Chassidic life in post-war Eretz Yisrael.
Rav Chaim Meir was succeeded by his son Rav Moshe Yehoshua, the Yeshuos Moshe. His other son, Rav Mordechai, moved to Monsey and established the Vizhnitz Monsey court. His daughters were: Hinda, wife of Rav Naftoli Adler, the Rav of Vizhnitz, Netania; Sheva Berocha, the wife of Rav Moshe Ernster, the Rav of Vizhnitz, Tzefas and Bnei Brak; and Tzipora, wife of Rav Yisrael Friedman.
His eldest daughter was married first to Rav Yehuda Horowitz of Dzhikov and then to Rav Yehoshua Greenwald of Chust. After his petira, she married Rav Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss of the Eida Chareidis.
His seforim include: Imrei Chaim on the Parsha and Moadim, as well as Mayim Chaim on Tanach.
