Israeli Stuntman Topples David Blaine’s Pole-Standing Record

By Michael Kaminer May 25, 2011

While Benjamin Netanyahu was delivering a fiery speech to Congress, another Israeli challenged the U.S. by just standing there — and succeeded spectacularly.

Stuntman Hezi Dean balanced atop a pole in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square for 35 consecutive hours, toppling magician David Blaine’s record.

“It was very hard. I want to tell you only one important sentence: Nothing stands in front of the will,” Dean said in Hebrew following the stunt.

It’s not the first time Dean has tried to outdo Blaine. Last year, the Israeli tough guy endured 66 hours in an ice cube, beating the half-Jewish Blaine’s 63-hour milestone set in 2000.

For the pole trick, Dean “had no food, but he did have a catheter and the strength of will to stand for 35 hours,” reported PerezHilton.com. “You’ve just been OWNED, David Blaine!”, crowed Hilton, apparently a fan of bald, sturdy Israelis himself.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO