Bernard Meer was born in 1923 into an orthodox family in Birmingham, Alabama. His parents believed very strongly in the importance of a Jewish education for their children. One of his early teachers was Dr. Philip Birnbaum, author of the then popular Siddur Hashalem. At the age of 13, Bernie traveled to Chicago to attend the Yeshiva. After graduation, he continued with his studies at the Yeshiva while attending Roosevelt University. During those years he met the love of his life, Marcia Shkolnik. They married in 1948 and moved into an apartment on the west side of Chicago. Several years later they migrated to West Rogers Park, where they joined Congregation KINS, a traditional shul at the time. In addition to working as an insurance agent, Bernie served as a Hebrew school teacher and principal at Mikdash El Hagro in Evanston. He was also a very popular bar mitzvah instructor, training hundreds of students over the years. He and Marcia raised three children, teaching by example, and instilling in them a love and respect for Judaism.

Bernie’s home away from home was Congregation KINS. He held virtually every office in the shul at one time or another, including three 4-year terms as president spanning three different decades. In the late 1980’s, traditional Judaism was waning and he saw the writing on the wall. KINS would have to merge with a young up-and-coming orthodox shul or else cease to exist. Bernie was the chief architect and driving force behind the merge with a minyan at Congregation Beit Yitzchak, resulting in KINS becoming of one of the largest and most vibrant orthodox shuls in Chicago. This subsequently led to a revitalization of orthodox Jewish life in West Rogers Park.

Bernie passed away in 2006 on Yom Kippur. It seemed fitting that he left this world on the holiest day of the year. Rabbi Harvey Well (former spiritual leader of Or Torah) remarked: “Kedusha was met with Kedusha.”