The Mark Jeffrey Wiles Memorial Fund

The Mark (Meir) Jeffrey Wiles (1944 – 2006) Memorial Fund
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The Joseph Wiles Fund

B’nai Elim

Fear not, for I am with You. Be not dismayed, for I am your G_d. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will sustain you through My power. Isaiah 41:10

Meir Yisroel ben Avraham, bat Sarah by his Hebrew name, Mark was, to say the least, an extraordinary and inspiring human being. He will be remembered for many things, but he should first be remembered for his intrepidity as a single parent. Meir had been ill with a serious heart condition for many years and was 100% disabled. Forced to live on a modest disability pension, he had been successfully raising his Son Joseph single handedly.

Joseph is seventeen years old, a Junior in High School, and is now without parents to nurture or care for him. Joseph is an outstanding young adult, an exemplary student, maintaining a grade point average in the top of his class and excelling at sports as well. In addition, Joseph has continued his Jewish education with ongoing classes in his Synagogue.

Joseph will be able to stay in the home of a long time family friend until his graduation next year, and now has a job to help offset his expenses. Still, there will not be nearly enough to pay for his necessities.

Joseph may now be deprived of the opportunity of a college education, something that his Father vowed he would provide for. The sad reality is that because of Mark’s pre-existing medical conditions, he was unable to purchase life insurance.

To overcome the financial obstacles facing Joseph, B’nai Elim has established a fund to help provide for his education, as well as to defray the costs of day to day living expenses. Please send your contribution in any amount to B’nai Elim for the Joseph Wiles Fund. Your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent provided for by law.

Mark Wiles spent the last years of his life not only raising a Son, but protecting the Jewish Community and fighting for Israel as well. We owe Mark Wiles and others like him a debt that cannot be easily repaid. Please do your part by giving generously. Mail your gift to “B’nai Elim, 404 Harvest Gate, Lake In The Hills, Illinois, 60156-1119. Mark your check for the Joseph Wiles Fund. You will be mailed a receipt with our tax identification number for your records.

More about Meir Wiles;

Meir was born January 4th, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned a B.S. in Education from Bridgeport University, CT, and was only nine credits short of his master’s degree. He attended Temple Emanu-El, Reno and Chabad of Northern Nevada. Meir Wiles was buried May 24, 2006 in Hebrew Cemetery, Reno, Nevada. Services were conducted by Rabbi Mendel Cunin, Chabad of Northern Nevada.

Meir was an early member of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) holding the office of Chairman, JDL of Nevada and Assistant Chief, Intelligence and Security, Jewish Defense League. He participated on the front lines in the fight against anti-Semitism numerous times in Idaho against the Aryan Nations; in Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Brooklyn; Chicago; Reno; and other locations.

He continued his Jewish activism as a charter member of B’nai Elim. Meir was resolute in his love for Israel and the Jewish people. He routinely faced and dealt with danger without flinching, and was invulnerable to fear or intimidation. Meir was a religious Jew, firm in purpose and belief, characterized by his tenaciousness and determination, whose fairness, character, dignity and integrity serve as an everlasting example to everyone who knew him. He will be sorely missed and long remembered. I can only hope that I was as good a friend to him as he was to me.

B’nai Elim is also asking for your help in purchasing a befitting memorial marker for Meir’s gravesite. Should you wish to assist us in that project, please mail your donation to the above address and designate it for Meir Wiles Memorial Marker.

Toda rabbah,

B’nai Elim Chairman, Board of Directors, and membership.