Rabbi Chaim Rapaport, Renowned Torah Scholar,  Dies at 75

Rabbi Chaim Aharon Rapaport, a distinguished Torah scholar and educator who shaped thousands of students' lives at the prestigious Nachalat HaLevi'im Yeshiva in Haifa, passed away last night (Wednesday) after a battle with pneumonia.

Rabbi Rapaport served as a bridge between generations of Jewish scholarship, combining his role as a senior rabbi at the yeshiva with his position as a religious court judge under the renowned Rabbi Nissim Karelitz. For decades, he maintained a punishing schedule, traveling weekly from his home in Bnei Brak to teach in Haifa, returning only for Shabbat.

Born in 1950 into a family of scholars, Rabbi Rapaport studied at the acclaimed Slobodka Yeshiva before marrying the daughter of Rabbi Baruch Shraga HaCohen Plunchik, who headed the Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Wilrijk and was among the last surviving students of the pre-war Lomza Yeshiva.

At Nachalat HaLevi'im, established by Rabbi Eliezer Menachem Shach ztz"l, Rapaport became known for his unique teaching method that combined deep analytical study with a warm, approachable demeanor. Colleagues say he had a particular talent for making complex Talmudic concepts accessible to students.

A prominent figure in the Strikov Hasidic community, Rabbi Rapaport had previously overcome a serious illness several years ago, but recently developed pneumonia. Despite intensive prayers from his community, he passed away at midnight, surrounded by family and students.

The funeral will take place today at noon in Bnei Brak, with burial at the Ponevezh Yeshiva cemetery, marking the end of an era for one of Israel's most respected Torah educators.