Operating Hours & Seasons

The David Berger Memorial is located on the grounds of the Mandel Jewish Community Center (JCC). Visitors to the memorial have access beyond the community center hours listed below. The National Park Service Passport Cancellation Stamp is available at the reception desk of the community center and will only be available during the hours listed below.

Reception Desk Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday 8:00am - 1:00pm

Hours of operation are adjusted for the following holidays and Jewish Celebrations:
New Year's Evening
New Year's Day
Passover
Labor Day
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

Directions

The David Berger Memorial was placed on the grounds of the Mandel Jewish Community Center in the fall of 2006.

The David Berger Memorial is most easily accessed from I-271. Take I-271 to the Chagrin Boulevard exit. Go west on Chagrin Boulevard for 0.5 miles. Turn right (north) on Richmond Road. Follow Richmond Road 0.6 miles to Woodland Road. Turn right (east) on Woodland Road and travel 0.1 miles to the community center entrance.

Fees & Reservations

There is no fee to visit the David Berger Memorial.

Use of the recreational facilities at the Mandel Jewish Community Center requires membership fee.

Contact Information

The community center can be contacted for general visitation inquiries. Staff at Cuyahoga Valley National Park will respond.

Write to:
Mandel Jewish Community Center
26001 South Woodland Road
Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Phone:
Community Center
(216) 831-0700

David Berger: Scholar and Athlete

David Mark Berger was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He attended Tulane University from 1962 to 1966 where he was a weightlifter and honor student and true to these dual interests, while at Tulane, he won the NCAA weightlifting title and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. Continuing his educational pursuits David earned a master's degree in business administration and a doctor of laws degree from Columbia University. All while continuing to train and compete in weightlifting events. His father, Benjamin, was once quoted as saying, "I used to tell him ‘You may not be the best weightlifter in the world, but you’re certainly the smartest!’"

In the early 1970s David emigrated to Israel, where he met and become engaged to an Israeli student. Continuing his weightlifting competitions, he won a silver medal at the 1971 Asian Games, and made the 1972 Israeli Olympic team. In late August of that year, Berger flew to Munich with his teammates. On September 2, 1972, David competed, but was eliminated in an early round. He was killed during a hostage taking of Israeli athletes at the Olympic games in Munich.