It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Raphael Yaakov Yisroel (Raphi) Strauss z”l. He was 37.
In the realm of extraordinary individuals, Raphi was at the top of the list. Raphi was graced with a heartwarming smile despite being born with the rare condition of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). This hereditary ailment rendered him profoundly sensitive to the sun’s harmful rays, making his day-to-day life a delicate dance with extreme sun sensitivity.
Amidst the trials and tribulations that life bestowed upon him, Raphi – who lived in Teaneck, Monsey, and Bnei Brak – displayed unparalleled resilience and embraced his challenges with unwavering faith and equanimity. Throughout almost four decades, he courageously faced hundreds of procedures, each one a testament to his unwavering spirit.
Raphi’s journey began the day he was born in a Haifa hospital. He was a preemie. By the time he was 11 months old, doctors realized that he was suffering from a rare skin condition that was exacerbated by sunlight. Later, a specialist at Beilinson Hospital identified the condition as xeroderma pigmentosum, a rare genetic illness in which the slightest exposure to the sun’s UV rays could cause the rapid development of cancerous growths on the skin.
When Raphi was 14, he received assistance from a surprising source: NASA. NASA had a special space suit for astronauts to protect them from radiation when they go on space missions, and this space suit would help Raphi in his situation.
In all, he underwent hundreds of surgeries and had over 60,000 bioposies.
Adapting to his unique circumstances, Raphi shone in the night, forgoing the perilous daylight hours and only venturing outdoors when the sun’s rays no longer posed a threat. The indomitable spirit that coursed through his veins was truly awe-inspiring, for despite the unimaginable difficulties he encountered, he exuded an unyielding joy for life, a simchas hachaim that was infectious to all who crossed his path.
Not only did Raphi use his own struggles as stepping stones to unbelievable emunah, but he also touched the lives of countless others, lifting them with his boundless inspiration. Such was the power of his character that he garnered an extensive network of friends and admirers, each touched by his effervescent spirit and unwavering positivity.
The levayah was held today at Congregation Knesses Yisroel, located at 698 Union Road in Spring Valley, NY. The aron is going to be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah there.
Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}