Leib Groner

Yehuda Leib "Leibel" Groner (; April 25, 1931 – April 7, 2020) was an American Hasidic Jewish teacher, scholar, and author. He is best known for having served as the personal secretary to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, for 40 years.

Early life and education Yehuda Leib Groner was born in New York City on April 25, 1931. His parents were Rabbi Mordechai Avrohom Yeshaya Groner and Menucha Rochel Groner. His brother, Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner, became the most senior Chabad rabbi in Melbourne, Australia, and the director of the Yeshivah Centre there. Groner was a direct descendant of Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founding Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.

Secretary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe 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. and vied for power with Schneerson's chauffeur and spokesman, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky. After Schneerson's death in 1994 he became a public speaker.

Writing and teaching Groner is a co-author, with Rabbi Volf Greenglass of Montreal, of Sefer HaMinhagim, the authoritative book describing Chabad-Lubavitch customs. He was also a strong figure in the Messianic sect of Chabad.

Personal life In 1954, Groner married Yehudis Gurewytz. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the funeral took place in a more muted fashion with social distancing procedures in place. The Rabbinical Alliance of America released a statement mourning Groner as "one of the most prominent figures in Lubavitch of the last generation".