Whenever I thought about him, even back when I was a bachur, I thought – this is what a Chassid of the seventh generation looks like. Just like Kuti Rapp. One who was “born” as a Chassid into the nesius of the Rebbe MH”M and completely devoted himself to him and his horaos.
The tremendous seriousness. Everything he did was done earnestly. That was the first thing I noticed about him. It wasn’t the type of seriousness that bespoke haughtiness, distance, snobbishness or distanced anyone, G-d forbid. It was a certain naïveté, a simplicity, authenticity, overflowing with vibrant sincerity and infused with good-heartedness that peered forth from twinkling eyes.
His quick but calm gait, with glances in all directions, was so characteristic of him. I remember him on the eve of holidays, weekdays, nights after siyumei Rambam, on long summer Shabbasos afternoons and in the mornings at the mikva on Union.
AT HOME IN 770
A man of warmth, always with someone, one of his sons, one or two of his students, volunteers for mivtzaim at the airport, former students or guests, local Americans or just a conversation with one of the askanim in Crown Heights or from the small global village.
He treated everyone personally, warmly, in a relaxed, quiet, warm way. He found a common language with everyone. To everyone he showed that he cared and was interested. He always had something Chassidish to say, not just a vort or line in order to part from someone with a d’var Torah, but a complete story or sicha.
It was all serious, tremendous seriousness, totally real.
Oy Kuti!
That is what I blurted out when I opened the news website and saw the terrible news. The sleeping children jumped at the sound of my cry and my tears flowed. I wasn’t one of those who was particularly close to him but I wasn’t distant either. For he practically lived in 770 and I desired to be one of those who sit in the house of Hashem, so I amassed many hours in his presence like all the other “sitters” in Lubavitch for the past forty years.
He cared greatly about the bachurim, especially in freezing New York. Bachurim who came for the year of K’vutza found in him a good listener and plenty of support, even though there were periods of time when he did not receive a salary for months.
I can testify that dozens of bachurim, if not hundreds, owe him their spiritual and physical health, and sometimes even their mental health which was protected by his rare and warmhearted listening ear and attentiveness.
Many ate with him even when he did not have much himself. He would invite people to his home and took a great interest in his guests and entertained them with stories, pearls and sharp insights.
Guests and mekuravim would be on the receiving end of his warm welcome, explanations, stories, directives and friendly face; things which are not so commonly found, especially by people of his age and standing who merited so many hours in the Rebbe’s presence with countless horaos and encounters.
EARNESTNESS AND CARING
Again, above all else, what fascinated me was his earnestness. A seriousness with which he devoted himself to everything he got involved with. And his involvements were many. First, he was a mashgiach in the yeshiva and was in contact with dozens of bachurim every day. He was also the director of the Chabad House at the airport and made sure there were volunteers who would go to the terminal for every flight to and from Eretz Yisroel. They would give passengers the opportunity to do the mivtzaim and would invite them to visit 770.
In addition, he was one of the regulars who farbrenged at siyumei Rambam which occur every two or three days, along with his friend, R’ Menachem Gerlitzky, yibadel bein chayim l’chayim. They would farbreng with renewed chayus at every siyum. Just the memory of siyumei Rambam in 770, in my present, materialistic state as an “ordinary balabus,” fills me with chayus, excitement and amazement over his power of consistency and caring for this matter.
He also organized the dancing and simcha during Adar which continued every year until almost the end of Nissan and on some other special days in the calendar. As director of the Matteh Shira V’Zimra he would stand and give out mashke with genuine enthusiasm and would quote the Rebbe “b’rov shira v’zimra.”
Of course there was his activism and fight on behalf of shleimus ha’aretz, starting with the daily T’hillim, tirelessly raising money, as well as complex and influential campaigns which till today many people don’t know that he ran.
There is more that can be said but space is too limited to recount all the things he did, encouraged, urged, initiated and carried out with simcha and emuna, devotion and caring.
BORN TO THE SEVENTH GENERATION
Whenever I thought about him, even back when I was a bachur, I thought – this is what a Chassid of the seventh generation looks like. Just like Kuti Rapp. One who was “born” as a Chassid into the nesius of the Rebbe MH”M and fully devoted himself to him and his horaos 24 hours a day, and without consideration for the problems and personal upheavals that he experienced over the years.
When the Rebbe gave out dollars for tz’daka, it was he who, without an official title or salary, passed by the Rebbe with hundreds of distinguished guests, friends of Chabad, and influential people. He introduced them to the Rebbe, explained to them what the Rebbe said, and helped them make sense of and properly appreciate the powerful experience.
R’ Rapp was someone who dedicated himself to every inyan and mivtza of the Rebbe without consideration for himself, his standing, his honor, his surroundings, or situation. He just took action! We heard many stories about him, from the time he was a bachur, about the mivtza t’fillin he arranged until the final minutes before the sun set. His complete devotion to inyanei shleimus ha’aretz, whether he was speaking with a minister or Knesset member or raising another $1000 to be able to print signs and material.
Talk about Chabad Houses, he opened them at two airports. Mivtza Moshiach? He was one of the main activists and wore the Moshiach pin in his lapel even when he met with people who were considered high ranking. The Igud HaT’mimim organization, farbrengens with mashpiim, delving into the Torah of the Rebbe on the Rambam, influencing mekuravim, promoting simcha and dancing, and the list goes on. He was simply a Chassid of the seventh generation; I have no higher praise for him than that.
Oy, R’ Kuti. What still echoes in my ears is the proclamation you would announce in your distinctive voice at the end of siyumei Rambam: Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu, Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed.