It’s hard to believe, but there was a Jewish-Israeli professional wrestler and bodybuilder who later became an ordained Orthodox rabbi. Rafael Halperin (1924-2011) also excelled at weightlifting and karate. He entered competitions and became the Israeli national champion in karate, boxing, and bodybuilding. (In 1950, Halperin organized Israel’s first “Mr. Israel” bodybuilders competition.) Finally, he became a successful businessman and an ordained Orthodox rabbi. Who knew?!
— Wikipedia
Quote: “He was reported to have used the titles, ‘Mr. Israel’ and ‘The Rasslin’ Rabbi’ in America, where he “won” 159 consecutive bouts, in part because he refused to lose a match despite the “scripts” followed in professional wrestling. He also didn’t pander to the crowd as professional wrestling calls for, because he “came to America to wrestle representing the State of Israel and the Jewish people and could not fake or be phony.”
— JTA.org
Learn more about Rafael Halperin from Wikipedia. ►
Read “Mr. Israel” ►
Read “The Eulogizer: Rabbi, wrestler, entrepreneur Rafael Halperin, Ralf Pinto, Algarve community founder” ►
Watch “Classic Toronto Wrestling: Raphael Halpern vs Bulldog Brower” [0:38]. ►
Photo: Shutterstock
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