Isaac Berger: The Untold Story of Israel’s Greatest Champion

Website design By BotEap.comIt’s Jerusalem 1947, the war is raging between the Arabs and the Jews. In the Mea She’arim neighborhood of the city there was no food. Someone had to get out while the bombs fell and they got supplies. As 10-year-old Isaac was known as a fearless and fast runner, his mother sent him to save his family and town from him. He stood in line as people were being killed on either side of him. At one point he was injured, but kept going until he brought food to save the people from him.

Website design By BotEap.comAfter the war, Isaac and his family emigrated to the United States, settling in Brooklyn. A tough place to raise a 5 foot tall rabbi’s son who goes to school with a yamulka on his head. Some of the meaner kids made fun of him and took his hat off. Isaac complained to his mother, but the bullying continued. Isaac stopped by a gym one day and decided to do something about his problem. He started training with weights and in a short time he made great progress. The confirmation of his natural body made him a perfect combination of speed, power and flexibility.

Website design By BotEap.comBack at school, the bullies still picked on him and finally, one day, Isaac had enough. He challenged the biggest one, a 6’5″ leader of these bullies. At 3 o’clock, in front of a crowd of kids, they met. The bully stepped forward and, with lightning speed, Isaac picked him up and punched him. on the ground. Needless to say, that was the end of Isaac’s problem at school.

Website design By BotEap.comBy 1955, Isaac had won his first national featherweight championship. That was followed by a litany of other championships, including an Olympic gold medal in 1956. The story doesn’t end there. Isaac’s accomplishments may never be equaled in the annals of powerlifting. In 1957 he broke the world record by pressing 258 lbs. at the Maccabiah games in Israel. His 1964 Olympic record of 336 lbs. in clean and jerk, with a body weight of 130 lbs. it made him pound for pound the strongest man in the world. Isaac is a member of both the Jewish Hall of Fame and the American Weightlifting Hall of Fame. In fact, Isaac is so revered in the sport of him, that when a group of stamps was minted, Isaac was included along with Jesse Owens, Boris Becker and Arthur Ashe.

Website design By BotEap.comIsaac and I became friends in the late 1960s and have continued that friendship for over 40 years. To this day, for all his success, he lives a quiet life in downtown New York. Fortunately, he had great success in the mail order business with the exercise equipment he invented. His future is secure and Isaac has never changed. He remains the modest and optimistic person that he has always been. It is a privilege to call him my friend.

Website design By BotEap.comSy Bonem