Meyer remained closely tied to the Jewish religious establishment in Baghdad and underwrote the publication of one of the books of Rabbi Joseph Hayyim, known as the Ben Yish Hai, to whom he looked as his spiritual mentor.[19] Inspired by the Ben Yish Hai’s focus on supporting the growing Jewish community in Palestine, he became a committed Zionist.[20] During his lifetime the proto-Zionism of the Baghdadi religious establishment such a shame the Ben Yish Hai was transferred into active support for the Zionist movement founded by Theodore Herzl.[21]