Leib Groner
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner (born 1932) was the secretary to the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
for over 40 years.
Following Schneerson's death there were press report in which he expressed opposition to Yudel Krinsky, the sole executor of Schneerson's will and a political opponent.
Groner was instrumental in the care of the Rebbe during his final year when he was no longer able to communicate effectively. The manner of his care was a source of great controversy within Chabad with some recommending his removal to a specialist hospital and others demanding he stay put at 770 Eastern Parkway
. Groner led the latter camp, while Krinsky led the former. The controversy led to the resignation of one of Schneerson's doctors Dr. Eli Rosen.
He was a witness in 1988 to the signing of Schneerson's secular will - a will that gave all the power over the organizational structures of Chabad to his primary rival Krinsky. Groner was seen as part of the messianist
wing - even going so far as adorn his car with messianist bumper-stickers. That Groner - despite his years of service - was not given any responsibility in the will was seen as a blow to his standing. Groner reacted to the will by arguing that "the will only transfers the responsibility of the Rebbe’s property to Agudas Chassidei Chabad" and did not attend the official reading.
Groner was a party to a bitter split between two groups of Schneerson's aides that differed in their recommendations as to how Schneerson should be treated, with the two camps led by Groner and Yehuda Krinsky. Aides argued over whether Schneerson had the same physical makeup as other humans and if the illness should be allowed to run its course without interference. Krinsky argued that the latest and most suitable medical treatment available should be used in treating Schneerson while Groner thought that "outside interference in the Rebbe’s medical situation might be just as dangerous as inaction. They saw his illness as an element in the messianic revelation; interference with Schneerson’s physical state might therefore affect the redemptive process, which should instead be permitted to run its natural course."
He has been associated in recent years 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
.
at the Chabad Yeshiva in Kiryat Gat, Israel
alongside the city's Chief Rabbi Moshe Havlin
. Another son Rabbi Yossi Groner, is the Rabbi of Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Charlotte, North Carolina
. His brother was Yitzchok Dovid Groner
the chief Rabbi in Melbourne
, Australia.
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
for over 40 years.
Following Schneerson's death there were press report in which he expressed opposition to Yudel Krinsky, the sole executor of Schneerson's will and a political opponent.
Groner was instrumental in the care of the Rebbe during his final year when he was no longer able to communicate effectively. The manner of his care was a source of great controversy within Chabad with some recommending his removal to a specialist hospital and others demanding he stay put at 770 Eastern Parkway
770 Eastern Parkway
770 Eastern Parkway is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America...
. Groner led the latter camp, while Krinsky led the former. The controversy led to the resignation of one of Schneerson's doctors Dr. Eli Rosen.
He was a witness in 1988 to the signing of Schneerson's secular will - a will that gave all the power over the organizational structures of Chabad to his primary rival Krinsky. Groner was seen as part of the messianist
Chabad messianism
Chabad messianism, or Lubavitch messianism, is a term used to describe a spectrum of beliefs within the Chabad Hasidic movement regarding their late leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson and his purported position as the Messiah...
wing - even going so far as adorn his car with messianist bumper-stickers. That Groner - despite his years of service - was not given any responsibility in the will was seen as a blow to his standing. Groner reacted to the will by arguing that "the will only transfers the responsibility of the Rebbe’s property to Agudas Chassidei Chabad" and did not attend the official reading.
Groner was a party to a bitter split between two groups of Schneerson's aides that differed in their recommendations as to how Schneerson should be treated, with the two camps led by Groner and Yehuda Krinsky. Aides argued over whether Schneerson had the same physical makeup as other humans and if the illness should be allowed to run its course without interference. Krinsky argued that the latest and most suitable medical treatment available should be used in treating Schneerson while Groner thought that "outside interference in the Rebbe’s medical situation might be just as dangerous as inaction. They saw his illness as an element in the messianic revelation; interference with Schneerson’s physical state might therefore affect the redemptive process, which should instead be permitted to run its natural course."
He has been associated in recent years with a number of right-wing campaigns. In 2005 he was part of a delegation along with Menachem Brod
Menachem Brod
Rabbi Menachem Brod is a senior Chabad rabbi from Kfar Chabad, Israel. He is the spokesman of the Chabad youth movement center Tze'irei Agudas Chabad in Israel and the editor of the nationally distributed Chabad weekly pamphlet Sichat HaShavua...
who had a "heated debate" with Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
.
Family
He is married to Yehudis Groner, and his son Rabbi Menachem Mendel Groner is a Rosh YeshivaRosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
at the Chabad Yeshiva in Kiryat Gat, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
alongside the city's Chief Rabbi Moshe Havlin
Moshe Havlin
Rabbi Moshe Havlin is the Chief Rabbi of southern Israeli town of Kiryat Gat.He is the Chairman of local Chabad Yeshiva, replacing Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo. He is also the leader of local Chabad Community and the religious adviser of the Mayor of Kiryat Gat....
. Another son Rabbi Yossi Groner, is the Rabbi of Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. His brother was Yitzchok Dovid Groner
Yitzchok Dovid Groner
Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner , was the most senior Chabad rabbi in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and the director of the Yeshivah Centre, which includes the Yeshiva Shul, the Kollel Menachem Lubavitch, a boys' school known as Yeshivah College, a girls' school known as Beth Rivkah Ladies College, a...
the chief Rabbi in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia.