Background
Born in Jerusalem in 1856, the son of a successful merchant, Calev Mercado, Meir studied the Talmud under Rabbi Menachem Bechor Yitzhak and Kabbalah under Rabbi Aharon Azriel.
Born in Jerusalem in 1856, the son of a successful merchant, Calev Mercado, Meir studied the Talmud under Rabbi Menachem Bechor Yitzhak and Kabbalah under Rabbi Aharon Azriel.
A talmudic scholar, fluent in Hebrew as well as five other languages, he enjoyed a reputation as one of Jerusalem"s most respected rabbis. In 1882 he was sent to Bukhara, as the first emissary to visit that country. He was instrumental in encouraging the immigration of Bukhara Jews to the Land of Israel.
In 1885, 1888, and 1900 he visited Tunisia and Algeria as an emissary.
Under Turkish rule, he often interceded with the authorities on behalf of the Jewish community. He also encouraged the construction of new Jewish quarters of Jerusalem.
In 1899 he was appointed deputy head of the Beth Din of Rabbi Raphael Yitzhak Israel. In 1906 he was chosen chief rabbi of Jerusalem, succeeding Elyashar, but his appointment was vetoed by his opponents, supported by the Hakham Bashi in Constantinople, because of his Zionist affiliations.
He was subsequently inducted as Hakham Bashi of the Land of Israel, but six months later he was deposed by the Sultan of Turkey and Eliyahu Moshe Panigel took charge of overseeing the orthodox community.
Meir went on to be elected chief rabbi of in 1908, where he remained until 1919. He was elected chief rabbi of Jerusalem in 1911, but the Jews of prevented him from assuming the office. In 1921 the Chief Rabbinate of was established.
Meir was elected as Sephardi chief rabbi of and took the position, assuming the title of "Rishon le-Zion".
He was at the forefront of the effort to revive Hebrew as a modern language. He held the post until his death.
Meir died on May 26, 1939, aged 83 years old. Over 10,000 Jewish residents of Jerusalem, representing all sections of the population took part in the funeral procession.
In 1888-1899 he was a member of the Beth Din of Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elyashar in Jerusalem.