Meir Schiff was a descendant of the Frankfurt Schiff family. He was born in Frankfurt in 1605. Even in his youth he was notable for his deep piety and great knowledge, and he was appointed rabbi in Fulda at the early age of seventeen. He published a commentary on the Talmud as well as a series of fundamental theological works, and acquired a large following of students. He died at his father's house in Frankfurt in 1641, just after accepting a vocation to become chief rabbi in Prague. He is buried in the cemetery in the Battonstrasse in Frankfurt.