By Jeff Lipton
But among the many accomplishments of Berger, who led the temple from 1963-97, he is also well known for the part he played in "Rocky III" in 1982. In the movie he served as the rabbi who performed the "Jewish burial" for Rocky's trainer Mickey when he died.
More than 750 mourners attended Rabbi Berger's funeral service on Nov. 2 at Temple Avodah, at 3050 Oceanside Rd., which is an indication of his popularity, those who knew him said.
He was remembered as a dedicated religious leader under whose tenure the temple's membership increased from 285 to 600 by the 1980s. "To me, he was a friend and a teacher," said current Temple Avodah Rabbi Uri Goren, who succeeded Berger about 10 years ago. "He was kind, funny, easy-going and happy. He was not one for profound speeches."
Goren said Berger gave him the confidence to build upon the strength of a congregation that had grown by leaps and bounds. When he retired as rabbi in 1997 after 34 years at Temple Avodah, Berger told congregants that Goren was in charge and he will stand behind his decisions. "That took the pressure off 100 percent," said Goren, who looked upon Berger as a father figure.
Philip Perlmutter, president of Temple Avodah, said of Berger, "I think that he was more than a leader of a congregation. He was a leader of the community. Many looked up to him and he touched thousands of lives through [presiding at] bar mitzvahs and weddings. He was one of the most influential rabbis in our community. "He was just a wonderful, wonderful guy," added Perlmutter. "He handled things with a smile. He was just a very caring person."
Another side of Rabbi Berger was revealed when he won the part in Rocky III. One of the congregants he bar mitzvahed became a casting director and offered a part to Rabbi Berger.
"The rabbi was sitting at home one night when he gets a call from an ex-congregant in California that he had bar mitzvahed," said longtime friend Jordan Koplan. "He told the rabbi, 'Would you like to be in a Sylvester Stallone move.' The rabbi's response to him was, 'What are you smoking?' I'll never forget that."
Rabbi Berger received a credit in the movie, was given several lines, and thereafter became known as "Rocky's rabbi," family members said.
After the movie, Rabbi Berger always displayed a director's chair in his temple office with the Rocky logo and would often joke about the annual "royalties" of $2 that he received from the film, according to Elliot Taub, Temple Avodah president from 1995-97 and current member of its board of trustees. Although he was a very pleasant man, Rabbi Berger could be tough when the situation called for it, said Perlmutter. He recalled a meeting at the high school more than 10 years ago when anti-Semitic graffiti was found in the community. "Everyone who spoke was polite, but he let them have it," said Perlmutter of Berger. "He was not afraid to say what was on his mind."
Koplan, who knew Rabbi Berger for more than 50 years, said the rabbi strongly believed in doing work for charities. "He was a fantastic man," he said. "He believed in doing very good deeds.
"When he first came to the temple, I was a member and I interviewed him to see what he was like," said Koplan. "Well, he impressed me very much. I always relied on him for giving me good legitimate advice. He never criticized what you did."
Berger grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, spent two years at Western Reserve University, and then finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati. He entered the Hebrew Union College in 1947 and was ordained as a rabbi in 1953 before serving as chaplain in the Air Force from 1953-55.He served at Temple Shalom in Chicago, and then moved to Muncie, Ind. for one year followed by four years at a temple in Elmira, N.Y. He moved his family to Oceanside in 1963, when he became the spiritual leader of Temple Avodah and remained at the temple for 34 years.
Among his other accomplishments, Rabbi Berger became the director of the Counseling Center of the New York Federation of Reform Rabbis in 1969 and also became associated as chaplain to the Nassau County Correctional Facility and South Nassau Communities Hospital. He served as president of the Association of Reform Rabbis of New York from 1977-79 and was given life tenure as rabbi of Temple Avodah in 1972. He was confirmed as Doctor of Divinity from Hebrew Union College in 1978 and for many years spent his summers at Joseph Eisner Camp Institute for Reform Judaism, where he was the assistant program director. When he retired in 1997, he became rabbi emeritus of Temple Avodah. Upon celebrating his 50th year in the rabbinate, Rabbi Berger wrote: "Fifty years, where have they gone? I have had a good life. I cannot ask for anything more."
Rabbi Berger was the husband of Ginger Berger and the late Anita Berger. He is survived by four children and their spouses, Debi and Gary Lerner, Daniel and Lynn Berger, David and Nancy Berger and Diane and Jeffrey Lieberman; two stepchildren and their spouses, Ilene and Anthony Pellecchia and Joni and Michael Eberlin; grandchildren Fred Berger, Tatyana Berger, Ross Berger, Scott Berger, Max Lieberman, Amanda Lieberman, Danielle Pellecchia, Ian Pellecchia, Rebecca Eberlin, Jessica Eberlin and Charles Eberlin.
Rabbi Berger was buried in Beth Moses Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
