Rabbi Meir Horowitz, the second Rebbe of the Dzikov dynasty, known as the Imrei Noam after his work, was born in 5579 (1818) in Rawa Ruska, Galicia. He was the son of Rabbi Eliezer Horowitz of Dzikov and of Chaya, daughter of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Rosenfeld of Rawa Ruska. In his youth he still knew his grandfather, Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Horowitz of Ropshitz, author of Zera Kodesh.

He traveled to his uncle Rabbi Asher Yeshaya Rubin of Ropshitz and later to Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch of Rimanov. From his youth he was known as a genius who could absorb raw knowledge in an astonishing way, while working in secret to elevate himself in Torah and chassidut. He married Devorah, daughter of Rabbi Kalman Pitzelis, a Ropshitz chassid in Cracow.

During his father's lifetime he was appointed rabbi of Dzikov (Tarnobrzeg). When Rabbi Eliezer passed away on 3 Cheshvan 5621 (1860), he was crowned the second Rebbe of Dzikov although he was only the second son. At the start of his leadership he and his brother Rabbi Moshe of Rozwadow still traveled as chassidim to Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, but disputes later distanced them from his court. Under his leadership the Dzikov chassidut flourished: thousands gathered around him, and every Shabbat he held three tables at which he delivered his Torah insights. He built a new beit midrash with a mikveh, a sukkah and a room for baking matzot. He would tell his chassidim that "Torah and greatness are found in one place."

His teachings were printed in his chassidic commentary Imrei Noam, accepted as authoritative throughout the Diaspora; he also left responsa, Sheelot uTeshuvot Imrei Noam. When Rabbi Chaim of Sanz passed away on 25 Nissan 5636 (1876), he told his chassidim that he knew his time was near, and a chronic illness began to spread through his body.

He passed away on 8 Tammuz 5637 (1877) while staying in Karlsbad. Before his soul departed he said: "The soul is Yours and the body is Your work; have pity on Your work." He is buried in Dzikov (Tarnobrzeg). His third son, Rabbi Yehoshua, succeeded him as the third Rebbe of Dzikov. His other sons, Rabbi Naftali Chaim (rabbi in Jerusalem), Rabbi Tuvia, Rabbi Yechiel, Rabbi Aharon and Rabbi Asher Yeshaya, were renowned rabbis and tzaddikim, and his daughter Hinda married Rabbi Yisrael Hager of Vizhnitz, author of Ahavat Yisrael.