YWN regrets to inform you of the Petirah of Rafi Strauss Z”L. He was approximately 40 years old, and one of the biggest Baalei Yesurim of our generation, who accepted his fate in life with tremendous Emunah and Simcha.
Originally of Teaneck, NJ, Rafi was born with a condition called Xeroderma Pigmentosa, which left his immune system without the ability to repair the DNA damage from UV rays coming from any source – especially the sun.
Over his lifetime he wore a specialized suit developed by NASA for astronauts to help protect him from the sun’s rays, and underwent more than 500 surgical procedures to remove almost every type of skin cancer known to man.
Rafi worked at various shuls in Monsey, helping clean them during the night hours, when it was safer for him. Despite his unimaginably difficult life, he was full of Simchas Hachaim and used his struggles to elevate and inspire others, garnering a wide base of friends and admirers.
The Levaya will be held at 11:00 am Sunday at Rabbi Shabbos’s Shul located at 698 Union Road in Spring Valley. The Kevura will be in Eretz Yisroel.
Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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7 Responses
He looks naturally very happy and content in the above photograph despite his very obvious yisurim.
BDE
BDE. This is a reminder to all those with healthy skin to appreciate all we have
BDE
His story was a serial in the Ami Living magazine a couple of years back. So sad
BDE…..an angel
BDE. Zechuso Yagein Aleinu
May his neshama have an aliya. He was a holy tzadik. It was a zchus to only get to know him thru the AmiLiving serial. He touched the hearts of people around the world
May his family be comforted. They were unbelievably dedicated and supportive.