Shul in Lido Beach welcomes its new rabbi, Shaul Rappeport

Rabbi Shaul Rappeport was introduced to the Lido Beach Congregation Friday evening amid the warmth and excitement of a buzzing record crowd.

Born in Perth, Australia, and with smicha awarded in Israel by way of yeshivot in South Africa, Rabbi Rappeport comes to Lido after three years in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Lido Beach President Alex Berkovitch, who chaired the Shabbat event, voiced gratitude to Hashem for helping his community find such a wonderful successor to the retired Rabbi (now Emeritus) Daniel Mehlman.

Rebbetzin Michal Rappeport introduced her husband, her innate warmth charming the crowd. But achron chaviv (last is the best), the real stars were the smiling and ever-scurrying children Eliezer, Sara and Shaina.

Rabbi Rappeport plans to promote Lido community as a hidden gem, calling it an “idea town for both younger families and empty-nesters.”

“Of course the shul has minyanim and shiurim and we have an eruv,” he said, but also “yeshivot, parks, boardwalk and beaches, libraries, year-round pools, ice skating, kosher butcher, bakeries, and a 50 minute comfortable commute.

“We’re 15 minutes from major hospitals, three campuses with free courses for seniors, a full-service JCC, and you can live in anything from a rental to a mansion.”

Lido Beach’s tech-savy new rabbi said that he will be tweeting as @30somethingrav and will regularly post on YouTube.

Lido Vice President Zev Nathan noted that retired Rabbi Mehlman led the shul for 37 years and that under Rabbi Rappeport’s leadership, the congregation’s future is in excellent hands.