Brooklyn, NY – Rabbi Yekutiel Rapp, 66, a beloved and respected Crown Heights rabbi, has been tragically killed in a car accident.
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According to an account from an eyewitness on the street, the driver apparently backed over Rabbi Rapp on Empire Boulevard and Balfour Place. and then attempted to drive forward twice, unaware that someone was trapped under his vehicle. The exact details surrounding the accident is under investigation. The driver remained on the scene and was being questioned by Police.
COL Live reports (http://bit.ly/1IoRPF0). that as a young man, Rabbi Rapp was exposed to Chassidus in the course of his studies at Yeshiva Kol Torah in Jerusalem, and later became an integral part of the Chabad movement where he was stationed at JFK International Airport. There, he developed a close relationship with El Al Airlines personnel, and even brought Israeli government officials to a meeting at 770 Eastern Parkway to discuss the establishment of an organization to fight concessions to Arab nations. His love for Israel, her safety, and the Jewish people was widely-known.
Rabbi Rapp was employed as a mashgiach at the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva at 770, where he is said to have influenced many generations of bochurim.
The rabbi is survived by his wife Fayge and family.
BDE
It is a great honor to Rav Rapp, Z’TL, to have been niftar so close to the date of the yahrtzeit of his Rebbe last week.
I knew his wife Faigie from my time in Crown Heights – I remember when they got married. My heart goes out to her, not only is this an horrific accident, she was there & saw it all. The niftar was killed on Yud Beis Tammuz, the day the Frierdiker Rebbe was released from jail in Russia for spreading Torah. It is just unbelievable – it seems that every morning I wake up to bad news, but this is just horrendous. May Rabbi Rapp A”H be a meilitz yasher for us all.
Boruch Dayan Hoemes.
What a terrible tragedy. He was such a loving and caring person. I hope his family will have the strength to find the comfort and consolation they desperately need.
והחי יתן אל לבו
The Niftar was concerned about every Jew, regardless of their background or affiliation. We should all learn from him to add in our Ahavas Yisroel, this will be a Zechus for his Neshomo.
#5 Agree totally. Thank you for being also normal.
This was no accident, 3 TIMES, this is murder.
Chaval al D’avdin. Horav HaChasid HaTzaddik Reb Yekusiel Rapp zt”l.
A true tzaddik and a beautiful Jew. We have lost a precious gem.