Considering the Halperin before us, a thought arises. What stories could these walls tell about faith, resilience, and perhaps even a bit of wrestling?
The Halperin, a place of worship, shares its name with Rafael Halperin. Rafael was an Austrian-born Israeli Orthodox rabbi. But he was also a businessman, athlete, professional wrestler, and bodybuilder. His life was quite the blend of the sacred and the… unexpected.
Born in Vienna in 1924, Rafael Halperin immigrated to Israel with his family at the young age of nine. By his teens, he excelled in athletics. Karate, boxing, and bodybuilding were among his pursuits. He became a national champion in all three. In 1950, he organized Israel’s first “Mr. Israel” bodybuilding competition. Who would have thought that Halperin, the place of worship, shares a name with a bodybuilding enthusiast?
But that’s not all. Halperin decided to become a professional wrestler to fund his dream of opening a chain of athletic facilities. His wrestling career took him to the United States. There, he reportedly won 159 consecutive matches. In 1954, Toots Mondt signed him up as a wrestler.
He wrestled as “Mr. Israel” and “The Rasslin’ Rabbi.” Halperin refused to follow the “scripts”. He declared he “came to America to wrestle representing the State of Israel and the Jewish people and could not fake or be phony.” This earned him the displeasure of some promoters and fellow wrestlers. He treated his matches as legitimate athletic contests.
Halperin continued wrestling in the United States and Canada into the 1960s. His top triumphs were over Lu Kim, Lord Carlton, Zebra Kid and Steve Stanlee. Later, he returned to Israel. He is credited with popularizing professional wrestling in Israel. Back in Israel, his most well known matches were against Achmad Fuad and the “Jordanian Tiger” Abu Antar.
After retiring from wrestling, Halperin pursued his dream of opening a chain of gyms. He earned a rabbinical degree. He also wrote several religious books, an encyclopedia, and a weight-loss guide. During the Yom Kippur War, he served in the Israel Defense Forces. Halperin founded a chain of 120 optical centers selling glasses at affordable prices.
Because of his orthodox Jewish beliefs, he was opposed to businesses operating on Shabbat. Halperin led an initiative to create a credit card. It contained a chip that renders it inoperable on Saturday. It was also designed not to function in stores known to operate on Shabbat.
Halperin died of cancer on 20 August 2011 at age 87. His life was a testament to pursuing diverse passions.
So, as we stand before the Halperin, let’s remember Rafael Halperin. He was a rabbi, wrestler, and entrepreneur. His story reminds us that faith and dedication can take many forms.