R. Meir Halevi, the author of Sefer Or la-Shamayim, was hired by the Apter Rav to teach lessons to his son R. Yitzchak Meir. At that point, the Ohev Yisrael lived in Apt where he was Rav.
Once the Apter Rav suddenly woke up from his sleep during the night and said to his Rebbetzin: “Time has come for us to move away from here.” R. Meir already merited to become his [i.e. the Apter Rav’s] successor.
In the morning he summoned together all the householders of the city and relayed the news that he wanted to leave Apt. The distinguished members of the city began to scream and cry, but the Ohev Yisrael remained resolute: the situation was hopeless. However, he promised them: “For your effort, they will always refer to me by the name of your city – The Apter.”
Afterward, R. Meir, author of Or la-Shamayim became Rav in Apt.
I.F.
Sanzer Rebbe
Rabbi Rotenberg
