Leib Groner | |
|---|---|
 Groner (left, back turned) with theLubavitcher Rebbe (right) during the distribution of dollars | |
| Born | Yehuda Leib Groner (1931-04-25)April 25, 1931 New York City, New York |
| Died | April 7, 2020(2020-04-07) (aged 88) New York City |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Personal secretary to theLubavitcher Rebbe |
| Years active | 1949 - 1994 |
| Spouse | Yehudis Gurewytz |
| Children | 7 |
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Yehuda Leib "Leibel" Groner (Yiddish:יהודה ליב גראנער; April 25, 1931 – April 7, 2020) was an AmericanHasidic Jewish teacher, scholar, and author. He is best known for having served as the personal secretary to RabbiMenachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, for 40 years.[1][2]
Yehuda Leib Groner was born in New York City on April 25, 1931.[1] His parents were Rabbi Mordechai Avrohom Yeshaya Groner and Menucha Rochel Groner.[3] His brother, RabbiYitzchok Dovid Groner, became the most senior Chabad rabbi inMelbourne, Australia, and the director of theYeshivah Centre there.[4][5] Groner was a direct descendant ofShneur Zalman of Liadi, the founding Rebbe ofChabad-Lubavitch.[1]
Groner studied at theCentral Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch at770 Eastern Parkway inCrown Heights, Brooklyn, where he excelled as a student.[1][3] He often spoke withMenachem Mendel Schneerson, the future Lubavitcher Rebbe, and had an office in the building.[1] Groner's connection to Schneerson began at Groner'sbar mitzvah celebration, where Schneerson spoke for 1 hour and 20 minutes.[3] In 1949, Schneerson asked Groner to join the team ofMerkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, working in theKehot Publication Society,[3] thus adding Groner to his secretariat.[6]
In 1951, Schneerson succeeded his father-in-law as the seventh Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch. After Groner married in 1954, Schneerson asked him to become his personal assistant.[1] On April 13, 1984, Schneerson referred to Groner as "my general." Groner controlled access to Schneerson,[7] and vied for power with Schneerson's chauffeur and spokesman, RabbiYehuda Krinsky.[8] After Schneerson's death in 1994 he became a public speaker.[citation needed]
Groner is a co-author, with Rabbi Volf Greenglass of Montreal, ofSefer HaMinhagim, the authoritative book describing Chabad-Lubavitch customs.[1] He was also an editor of Otzar HaChasidim, the editorial group that publishes works on Chabad Hasidut. He taught atBeth Rivkah in Crown Heights, a school for girls who are part of the Chabad-Lubavitch community.[3]
Groner was associated with a number of right-wing campaigns. In 2005 he was part of a delegation along withMenachem Brod who had a "heated debate" with Israeli prime ministerAriel Sharon, pleading with him to not give away land, something he believed the nation of Israel would soon regret.[9] He was also a strong figure in the Messianic sect of Chabad.[citation needed]
In 1954, Groner married Yehudis Gurewytz.[1] The couple had three sons and four daughters.[1] Their son Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Groner is the rabbi of Congregation Ohr HaTorah inCharlotte, North Carolina, while another son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Groner, is aRosh Yeshiva at the Chabad Yeshiva inKiryat Gat, Israel.[1]
Groner died on April 7, 2020, aged 88, after being infected withCOVID-19 for several weeks.[1][10] Due to the ongoingpandemic, the funeral took place in a more muted fashion withsocial distancing procedures in place.[11] TheRabbinical Alliance of America released a statement mourning Groner as "one of the most prominent figures in Lubavitch of the last generation".[12]
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.
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