Julius (Yechiel) Berger, who survived the Holocaust in Shanghai and was president of Denvers Zera Israel for 22 years, passed away February 16, 2013, in Miami Beach, Fla. He was 95.
Rabbi Tzvi Steinberg officiated at the Feb. 18 service at Zera Abraham. Mr. Berger was also eulogized by Rabbis Israel M. Kagan, Myer J. Schwab and others. Interment followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Mr. Berger was remembered as a person whose dedication to the study of Torah remained with him since his youth, never slackening in his old age. He was a quiet person, consistently kind and dedicated to the welfare of yeshivas and to his community.
Mr. Berger was born Dec. 14, 1918, in Chorzel, Poland. He attended the Novorodock yeshiva in Pinsk, where he was inspired by Rabbi Yitzhak Waldshein.
In 1940, he fled to Shanghai, where he remained until 1946. In Shanghai he attended the Mir yeshiva, where he knew and was inspired by the legendary mashgiach or spiritual adept, Rabbi Yechezkel Levinstein.
Mr. Berger married Lizzi Berger on Oct. 16, 1945. They came to the US in 1946 and settled in Denver in 1950.
A businessman, Mr. Berger belonged to Chevra Shas and was a board member of Yeshiva Toras Chaim and Beth Jacob High School.
He and his wife moved to Miami Beach in 2004.
Mr. Berger is survived by his wife Lizzi Berger; sons Dr. Israel and wife Minna Berger, Marvin Berger and Rabbi Mark (Mordechai) and wife Debbie Berger; and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to Zera Abraham, Yeshiva Toras Chaim, Beth Jacob or Hillel Academy.
Copyright © 2013 by the Intermountain Jewish News
