THE Giant of Australian Jewry

4 Tammuz 5768 saw the passing of Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner OBM

Isi Leibler once exclaimed - "without Rabbi Groner there would be no Australian Jewry". Now Leibler himself is no small fry. He is described in the Encylopedia Judaica as "unquestionably the dominant Jewish lay leader in Australia during the previous quarter century", having served as President of the ECAJ for almost eighteen years. I believe that his description of Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner was not far off. The impact that he had on me, and many of my colleagues and contemporaries who occupy positions of leadership, was nothing short of amazing. 

I have known Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner for almost 48 years - since I was five years old. Although twenty-eight of those have been in Sydney, I don't recall a trip to Melbourne when my wife and I did not visit Rabbi Groner. It is indeed a source of great comfort that my last visit less than a month ago gave me the opportunity to spend a relatively long time in conversation with him. 

As with so many others, I am deeply indebted to Rabbi Groner. In my youth, he assisted me greatly, and as I matured he never ceased to be a source of support. He was my Rabbi and mentor - and although I tried not to bother him unnecessarily, I knew that when I needed him he was only a phone call away. I put my own she'elos to him and often consulted him regarding the she'elos of my baalei batim.  Most of all, however, Rabbi Groner was for me the living example of what a Rabbi ought to be. Although I am still far from reaching this goal - there are many aspects of my Rabbinic life that I have attempted to model after Rabbi Groner's example. Most of all, halevai that I would have the warmth and the Ahavat Yisroel, that were the very essence of his being.

In an attempt to describe something of the impact of his larger than life personality, let me share with you a small episode that I heard for the first time this week.

On Monday evening (4 Tammuz) there was a celebratory Graduation Dinner for all those who completed either or both of the past two JLI Adult Education courses at South Head. It was extraordinarily difficult for me to chair this very joyous event as I had heard the terrible news of Rabbi Groner's passing just minutes before. Nevertheless, knowing that this was part of our shlichus and most certainly what Rabbi Groner would have wanted, I of course did so. I announced that  the Divrei Torah of the evening would be dedicated to the honour and memory of Rabbi Groner.

After the speeches and ceremony, one of the participants - an ex-New Zealander - came over to me and told me how said she was deeply saddened to hear of Rabbi Groner's passing. Robyn explained that well over thirty years ago Rabbi Groner had visited the Wellington Jewish Community and a special evening was held for the forty or so young marrieds. Rabbi Groner's entire emphasis on that occasion  was that the young parents had a responsibility to make it absolutely impossible for their children to marry out. And how could they do that? By ensuring that their children had nothing less than a full day school education!

The impact of Rabbi Groner's words was so great, she told me, that the parents then and there decided to form a Jewish Day School. The school was successful for a number of years, but when the parents realized that due to the lack of numbers it would never be truly viable, most, if not all, of the parents decided to move to Australia. Once here they not only sent their children to Jewish Day Schools but themselves contributed enormously to our Jewish community, and to my delight, many became members of South Head.
I have of course been well aware of the contribution of the New Zealanders both back in New Zealand and later to our community. It was, however, only this week that I became aware how much of this was due to Rabbi Groner's influence, and the power and warmth of his words. 

How truly amazing that the words of one man could so profoundly influence an entire generation of such highly intelligent young adults!  But that was Rabbi Groner. A big man whose words were spoken with all the sincerity of his big warm heart. 
The Lubavitcher Rebbe created a diary called HaYom Yom with inspirational sayings for each day of the Jewish year. 

This is the saying for Tammuz 4, the day of Rabbi Groner's passing:
One single chassid or student who devotes his heart, mind and soul to Torah and to bolstering Torah, can effect wonders in a large city, in all that city's affairs - in a supernatural manner. He is able to do this in the merit of our Patriarchs, the "Fathers of the World."

Although Rabbi Groner's primary focus was on Melbourne, it certainly was not limited to that city. As you can see from the story above, there are people around the world who have felt his impact. Zechuso Yagen Aleynu! May his merit protect us!

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

P.S. To read more on Rabbi Groner, click here