Leib Groner
| Leib Groner | |
|---|---|
 File:Ahron Daum Schneerson.jpg Groner to the left of the Lubavitcher Rebbe during the distribution of dollars | |
| Born | Yehuda Leib Groner April 25, 1931 Brooklyn, New York |
| April 7, 2020 (aged 88)April 7, 2020 (aged 88) | |
| 💼 Occupation | Secretary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe |
| 📆 Years active | 1949 - 1994 |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Yehudis |
.jpg) |
| Part of a series on |
| Chabad |
|---|
| Rebbes |
|
| Places and landmarks |
| Customs and holidays |
| Organizations |
|
| Schools |
| Chabad philosophy |
| Texts |
| Outreach |
| Terminology |
| Chabad offshoots |
Yehuda Leib ("Leibel") Groner (25 April 1931 – 7 April 2020) (Hebrew dates: 8 Iyar 5691- 13 Nissan 5780)[1] was the primary secretary of Menachem Mendel Schneerson (the Lubavitcher Rebbe) for over 40 years.[2]
Early life and education
Groner's family were descendants of the founding rabbi of Chabad-Lubavitch chasidut, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, also known as the Alter (old) Rebbe. His parents were Rabbi Mordechai Avrohom Yeshaya Groner and Menucha Rochel Groner.[3] Groner studied at the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where he excelled as a student.[1]
Writing and teaching
Groner is a co-author, with Volf Greenglass of Montreal, of Sefer HaMinhagim, the authoritative book describing Chabad-Lubavitch customs. He was also an editor of Otzar HaChasidim, the editorial group that publishes works on Chabad Chassidut. He also taught at Beis Rivka in Crown Heights, a school for girls who are part of the Chabad-Lubavitch community.[1]
Secretary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Groner's connection to Schneerson began at Groner's bar mitzvah celebration, where, as a guest, Schneerson spoke for 1 hour and 20 minutes.[1] Several years later, in 1949, Schneerson asked Groner to join the team of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, working in the Kehot Publication Society,[1] thus adding Groner to his secretariat.[4]
In 5711 (1951) Schneerson officially assumed leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch. At that point the Rebbe asked Groner to become his assistant.[1] Groner's role working for Schneerson was similar to that of a chief of staff.[5] He maintained that role until the Rebbe's death on 3 Tammuz 5754, (12 June 1994.)
On 11 Nissan 5744, (13 April 1984) Schneerson referred to him as 'My general'. The Rebbe appointed Groner to run the Kupas Rabbeinu charity.[1]
He was a longtime secretary to the rebbe who enjoyed widespread respect and affection among Lubavitch leaders for most of his years of service.[6] After Schneerson's death, Groner went on to become a public speaker, traveling the world retelling many of his encounters with Schneerson.
Politics
Groner was in recent years associated with a number of right-wing campaigns. In 2005 he was part of a delegation along with Menachem Brod who had a "heated debate" with Ariel Sharon, pleading with him to not give away land, something be believed which the nation of Israel would soon regret.[7]
Family
He was married to Yehudis Groner (granddaughter of R' Itche the Masmid). His son Yossi is the rabbi of Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Charlotte, North Carolina. His other son Menachem Mendel is a Rosh Yeshiva at the Chabad Yeshiva in Kiryat Gat, Israel alongside the city's Chief Rabbi Moshe Havlin. His brother was Yitzchok Dovid Groner, who was the most senior Chabad rabbi in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and the director of the Yeshivah Centre there.[8][9]
Death
Groner died of COVID-19 on April 7, 2020, at the age of 88, during the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.[10] The Rabbinical Alliance of America released a statement upon his passing mourning Groner as "one of the most prominent figures in Lubavitch of the last generation".[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner, 88, OBM". COLlive. 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
- ↑ Zaklikowski, Dovid (8 April 2020). "Rabbi Leibel Groner, Member of Secretariat to the Lubavitcher Rebbe". Lubavitch.com. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ↑ "Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner, 88, OBM". COLlive. 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
- ↑ Miller, Chaim (29 May 2014). Turning Judaism Outward. Kol Menachem. p. 196. ISBN 978-1934152362. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
Leibel studied in the Lubavitch school and Yeshiva system in New York from its earliest days, and in 1949 was asked by the Rebbe - then the Ramash - to assist with some of the work of preparing Kehot publications for print. When the Rebbe assumed the leadership of Chabad, he asked Groner to assist him at farbrengens. Groner gradually assumed the role, not only of a secretary, but also an assistant who cared for many of the Rebbe’s personal needs.
Search this book on
- ↑ Gonzalez, David (12 March 1994). "'A Family in Stress' Over Its Stricken Rebbe; The Unspoken Question Among Lubavitchers: Who Is Going to Succeed Their Leader?". New York Times. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "News Analysis: Rebbe's Funeral Offers Glimpse into Post-rebbe Lubavitch Movement". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 15 June 1994. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "PM and Chabad Rabbis in a "Very Charged Meeting"". Israel National News. 29 June 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Australia's Chabad rabbi dies". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Rabbi Yehudah Leib Groner, 88, Aided the Rebbe for More Than Four Decades". Chabad.org. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Veteran Confidante of Lubavitcher Rebbe Dies of Coronavirus". Algemeiner Journal. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ↑ "Rabbinical Alliance of America Joins Klal Yisroel in Mourning the Passing of HaGaon HaRav Leibel Groner, ZT'L Faithful Secretary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe". Rabbinical Alliance of America. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
This article "Leib Groner" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Leib Groner. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
|
This page exists already on Wikipedia. |
