The other JM “mayor”, Meir Weingarten is often confused with Mayer Fertig, a wonderful compliment. He usually assures the mistaken listener that in fact he IS Mayer Fertig confusing the issue all the more so.
Meir was born at a very young age in Boro Park – a different Boro Park, not the one that is currently in Brooklyn. He attended Yeshivat Etz Chaim – of blessed memory, the first Religious Zionist Day School in America. Meir spent the six and seventh grade living in Jerusalem and studying at the Chorev Elementary School (which does still exist).
Upon graduation from Etz Chaim he was admitted to Chaim Berlin High School where he graduated four years later – although they have since disavowed all knowledge of his files.
After a year and a half of advanced Talmudic study at Yeshiva Emek Halacha, Meir ran off to Israel once again – this time spending six years at the Jerusalem College of Technology – Machon Lev where for a small fee he acquired a Bachelor¹s degree in computer sciences – something that will come in very handy years later when he will have to type this silly bio into a word processor. (By way of explanation Machon Lev is a College level educational institution in Jerusalem combining half a day of Yeshiva studies and half a day of university level studies in the applied sciences.) After graduating Machon Lev, and having no where else to go, Meir stayed on and volunteered his services as the executive assistant to the president of the college – Dr Yitzchak Nebenzahl, who had spent the previous twenty years as State Comptroller of the State of Israel.
Upon his return to the States Meir joined the family business – Ariel Tours – a wholesale tour operator specializing in travel to Israel. To this very day this continues to be Meir¹s preverbal “day job”. As business was slow Meir had to keep himself occupied with other activities. In 1985 he founded the Yavneh Minyan of Flatbush. For 8 years Meir served as the shul President, Gabai and the guy who cuts the cake for kiddush.
In 1990 together with Yitzchak, Yossi and Boaz Goldshmid he (co)founded the singing group Kol Achai which he continues to produce and manage till today — and for as long as the three Israeli¹s who are much bigger than he is, have patience to put up with him.
In 1989 Meir met Nachum Segal and together they began a ground breaking friendship. In 1989 they took their first of many trips to Israel together, broadcasting live from Jerusalem on Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day. Since then Meir has co-hosted and co-produced the very popular annual special programs on Tu- B¹shvat, Yom Haaztmaut and Yom Yerushalayim. He has also been an invaluable force in the fund raising efforts of JM in the AM. In 1997 he joined Mattes, Mark, Robert and that other Meyer (who spells his name all wrong) as a substitute host.
In 2012 Meir debut as the host of the Israel Show.
Meir’s passions are anything to do with Israel especially politics, Jewish Music and collecting butterflies.