Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner (18 April 1925 – 7 July 2008), 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 seminary for girls known as Ohel Chana, and others.
Born in New York, United States to a Hassidic family (his brother Leib Groner was one of the secretaries to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson), he arrived in Melbourne, Australia for the first time in 1953 at the bidding of the prior Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, and began his position officially in 1958.
He has been referred to as one of the pioneers and builders of the Melbourne Jewish community. He is also known for his vast Talmudic erudition, his awe-inspiring sermons and rousing High Holiday cantorial services (chazzanut) in the Yeshivah synagogue, specifically Ne'ilah.
He had numerous children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who live both in Australia and overseas.
In May 2007, he appointed Rabbi Tzvi Telsner, his son-in-law, as assistant rabbi and Dayan of the Melbourne Chabad community.[1]
He recently spoke at various Farbrengens on Shabbos in the Yeshivah lunchroom, and was recently honoured by a congregant in honour of his birthday. He stated that he did not even "touch the surface" in regards to the kiruv (bringing Jews closer to Judaism) process of Melbourne Jewry and he emphasised the fact that a lot more work still needs to be done in Australia.
On 18 May 2008, he explained at a Shabbat gathering that he was the forerunner and organiser of the Lag B'Omer Parade in 1942 and personally arranged the event as a request from Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson spoke for the first time in a public fashion at that gathering and Rabbi Groner suggested that somebody should take notes. In fact, the entire talk is available today thanks to Rabbi Groner.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday, then-Prime Minister John Howard said
| “ | His service to the spiritual needs of countless members of the Jewish community, as rabbi, mentor, counsellor, or friend, has seen him develop the enviable reputation as the people's rabbi.[2] | ” |
He died on Monday morning 7 July 2008, aged 83;[2] and was buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
He is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Devorah, and his children: