Rabbi Meir Rescues Bruriah's Sister
Rabbi Meir bribes a guard to free his wife Bruriah's captive sister and teaches him to call out "G-d of Meir, answer me," which stops vicious dogs and later saves the guard.
Rebbe Meir’s wife, Bruriah, had a sister who was kidnapped and held captive. At Bruriah’s urging, Rebbe Meir resolved to rescue her. He reasoned that the captive sister’s righteousness would bring about a miracle to save her. When he arrived at the place where she was held, he approached the guard and offered him money to release her. The guard refused, fearing execution for allowing her to escape.
Rebbe Meir then told him, “Take these gold coins and use them to bribe the officials overseeing you.” Still unconvinced, the guard asked, “What do I do when the money runs out?” Rebbe Meir replied, “Do as I say, and you will be unharmed. Say, ‘Eloka d’Meir aneini, G-d of Meir, answer me’ – and no danger will touch you.”
To prove the power of these words, Rebbe Meir picked up a clump of dirt and threw it towards vicious guard dogs that immediately lunged at him. Calmly, he called out, “G-d of Meir, answer me,” and the dogs froze in place and turned back. Seeing this wonder, the guard released Bruriah’s sister. Later, when the authorities sought to execute the guard for allowing her to escape, he cried out “G-d of Meir, answer me,” and miraculously he was saved, just as Rebbe Meir had promised.