Philmore Berger, 80, rabbi performed the "Jewish burial" "Rocky III"
Hoodude
By Jeff Lipton November 15, 2007
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19028070&BRD=1601&PAG=461&dept_id=479857&rfi=6
Philmore Berger, the beloved rabbi emeritus of Temple Avodah of
Oceanside who died on Nov. 1 at 80, was fondly remembered last week as
an influential religious leader who helped more than double congregation
membership.
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.
--
You cannot bring democracy to tyranny by conquest. Democracy can be
neither injected nor imposed. It comes into existence through a long
rite of passage. It has achieved its liberty by the actions of its own
martyrs, rebels and enduring believers. It is not a system, it is an
ennoblement. Democracy must come from within.- Norman Mailer