In the past few years, about a dozen Orthodox investors, mainly in North America, say they have been deceived by Weinstein.
Mr Berger's lawyer, Richard Selzer, said his client trusted Weinstein because he was recommended by respected members of the community in Lakewood, an Orthodox enclave in New Jersey.
"A rabbi from Lakewood called Mr Berger repeatedly to vouch for his trustworthiness and sagacity," Mr Seltzer said this week. "He told Mr Berger how philanthropic Weinstein was.
"Weinstein is an enormous contributor to cheders and yeshivahs in Lakewood. He buys a good reputation with stolen money."
Last Friday, a jury in US District Court, in Pennsylvania, found Weinstein guilty of fraud.
He was ordered to pay Mr Berger $23.1 million. Weinstein's estate agency, Pine Projects, was ordered to pay Mr Berger a further $6.6 million.
Ravinda Chawla, a business associate of Weinstein who was implicated in the deals, was ordered to pay Mr Berger a further $1.65 million.
The jury also punished Weinstein with $1 million in punitive damages and a further $50,000 in damages against Pine Projects.
But Weinstein's lawyer, Elizabeth Ainslie, said: "This is a seriously flawed verdict and we are considering our options."
