Page 91 - EDOS Dinner Journal 2019_website

FESTSCHRIFT | 91

Where can I begin. I have been honored and

privileged to know Rabbi Rapp for nearly four decades. As Rashi comments in Par-
shas Ki Savo, a person does not thoroughly know his Rebbe nor his wisdom until 40
years. Our relationship has spanned the globe and a panoply of the greatest yeshivos
and academic institutions. He is a Rebbe from whom I have learned much in Torah,
humor and wit as well as a chaver, dear friend, chavrusa and roommate of years past.

I first met Rabbi Rapp in the trailers of Camp Morasha (Lake Como, a/k/a Lakewood,
PA) and within a few years, we journeyed through high school academia at MTA. Fast
forward a few years and across the Pond to the hallowed halls of Yeshivat Kerem
B’Yavne, where we ultimately became roommates. I was entrusted by Rabbi Rapp’s

mother with a sacred mission of watching over him and ensuring that he returned
home in one piece (so to speak). I defer to Rabbi Rapp to identify the Felix and Oscar
in our room. Rabbi Rapp’s career as a baal chessed flourished at KBY, as he tutored our
Israeli roommate in math for the Bagrut [university matriculation] test and a certain
rebbe’s children in the English language. He also served as “librarian” of the traveling
bikkur cholim library. In a unique twist, we became co-shomrim entrusted one evening
with protecting the safety and security of the Yeshiva, with Rabbi Rapp in appropriate
security garb (ask Elmer Fudd) and even listening to a shiur during downtime.

But our journey together was only beginning.

It was off to YU where Rabbi Rapp’s chessed shone through. As a co-president/founder
of the Philanthropy Society, he took chessed to new heights, collecting cans for charity
and turning pennies into meals for needy and homebound residents of Washington
Heights on a weekly basis. And then there were the summers back at Camp Morasha,
now at the College Kollel, where Rabbi Rapp’s erudition, tenacity and yes, humor and

wit, were again on display.