ר' מאיר בן שמואל

Rav Meir ben Shmuel of Ramerupt (4820/1060–4895/1135), known by the acronym RaM and in English sources as Meir ben Samuel, was among the first of the Baalei HaTosafot, a talmid of Rashi and his son-in-law. He learned in the batei midrash of the geonim of Lothir and in Worms before Rav Yitzchak HaLevi, and Rashi gave him his daughter Yocheved. From that marriage came Rav Shmuel, the Rashbam; Rav Yaakov, Rabbeinu Tam; Rav Yitzchak, the Rivam; and Rav Shlomo — for which he was called the father of the rabbanim. He settled in Ramerupt in northern France and built a beit midrash there. His daughter married Rav Shmuel of Vitry, son of Rav Simcha ben Shmuel who arranged the Machzor Vitry, and their son was the Ri HaZaken, himself one of the chief Baalei HaTosafot.

Rav Meir wrote commentaries on the Gemara called Tosafot, in which the method of the Baalei HaTosafot can already be seen taking shape, leaning toward kushya and teirutz beyond what Rashi’s commentary does. A passage he wrote together with his son the Rashbam is printed within Rashi’s commentary in Menachot, and he is quoted by name both by his sons and in the Tosafot before us. Rabbeinu Tam brings in Sefer HaYashar his father’s emendation of the nusach of Kol Nidrei, made to bring it into line with the halacha. He composed as well a selichah opening "Avo Lefanecha".

His son the Rivam, whose words are cited again and again in the Tosafot, was niftar in the strength of his years and left seven children; the blow was such that his father had no heart to answer a halachic question sent to him by his friend Rav Elazar ben Nasan of Mainz. Rav Meir and his rebbetzin Yocheved both reached a great age — his own generation called him the elder, hayashish — and were niftar in Ramerupt in 4895/1135, Yocheved some months before her husband.