The Rashag - Reb Shemaryahu Gurary

Rabbi Shmarya Gurary (Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5698 - 6 Adar I 5749/1898-1989) served as the son-in-law of the Frierdiker Rebbe, brother-in-law of the Rebbe, and director of the worldwide Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva system. The Rebbe appointed him on Shemini Atzeres 5731 as the "baal habayis" over Egypt (where he had visited with the Frierdiker Rebbe).

Born in Kremenchug, Russia, to the renowned chossid and nogid Reb Menachem Mendel Gurary (a prominent chossid of the Rebbe Rashab) and Mrs. Sheindel, he studied in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch.

On Yud Beis Tammuz 5680 (three months after the histalkus of the Rebbe Rashab), his tenaim with the Frierdiker Rebbe's daughter, Rebbetzin Chana, were written. Their chasunah took place on Yud Alef Sivan 5681 in Rostov, in a somber atmosphere without dancing due to the recent histalkus of the Rebbe Rashab.

Following his marriage, he lived near his father-in-law and became deeply involved in Community work. The Frierdiker Rebbe appointed him as Menahel Poel and Chairman of the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshivos, a position he maintained with mesirus nefesh until his final day.

During his father-in-law's imprisonment, the Rashag was actively involved in pidyon shvuyim efforts. He accompanied the Frierdiker Rebbe from Russia to Riga, Latvia, then to Poland, and later on the Frierdiker Rebbe's visits to Eretz Yisroel in 5689 and to America.

Upon arriving in America with the Frierdiker Rebbe, he settled on the third floor of 770. Following the Frierdiker Rebbe's directive, he would farbreng and say Chassidus every Shabbos at seudah shlishis in 770.

After the Frierdiker Rebbe's histalkus and his brother-in-law's assumption of the nesius, the Rashag developed an extraordinarily deep hiskashrus to the Rebbe. He would sit beside the Rebbe at farbrengens, and during hakafos on Simchas Torah, the Rebbe would dance with him during the first and seventh hakafos.

His Hiskashrus To The RebbeEdit

The Rashag's deep hiskashrus to the Rebbe after the Frierdiker Rebbe's histalkus was evident in many profound ways. At the Shabbos Parshas Beshalach farbrengen in 5714, he sought the Rebbe's brocha for the yeshiva's dinner without any conditions, and on the first night of Pesach 5729, he requested to be included in the Rebbe's and their father-in-law's (the Frierdiker Rebbe's) Korban Pesach chaburah.

A particularly moving moment occurred at the Acharon Shel Pesach farbrengen of 5713, when the Rashag, slightly After l'chaim, declared to the Rebbe: "It is clear to me that you will lead us toward Moshiach! My brother-in-law is the sole inheritor of the Baal Shem Tov. I give over to you all my kochos as the elder son-in-law. I said this at the Ohel, and I say this now in public. With only one condition - that you support me as our father-in-law did." He also sought mechila from the Rebbe regarding certain events following the Frierdiker Rebbe's histalkus.

For many years, the Rashag was unique among the elder Chassidim in that he would stand whenever the Rebbe delivered a maamar k'ein sicha. His profound connection to the Rebbe is further illuminated in a letter he wrote to Reb Shneur Zalman Gurvitz of Montreal in Chof Cheshvan 5738, where he expressed with certainty that all the neshamos in Gan Eden derive great pleasure from seeing how Tomchei Tmimim has expanded in America, with tmimim standing packed in every corner of the beis medrash, entirely focused on absorbing every word from "my brother-in-law, the Rebbe shlita."

Perhaps the most remarkable demonstration of his hiskashrus came during the seforim saga of 5745, when his only son, Sholom Ber, removed seforim from the Lubavitch library. The Rashag strongly opposed this action, leading his wife and son to leave his home. His extraordinary mesirus nefesh and hiskashrus to the Rebbe became evident to all, as he chose to remain alone in his home, maintaining his complete bitul and dedication to the Rebbe despite these painful personal circumstances.

His PassingEdit

The Rashag was niftar on Shabbos morning, 6 Adar I 5749. The Rebbe participated in the levaya to Montefiore Cemetery, where he was buried near the Ohel of his father-in-law. Throughout the shiva, the Rebbe davened in the Rashag's apartment on the third floor of 770. The Rebbe also instructed that a special Tanya be printed for his aliyas neshama during the shiva and participated in the matzeiva setting on Yud Daled Adar I.

In the farbrengen that Shabbos, the Rebbe addressed his passing when speaking about those who received powers from the Rebbe (Rayatz) to manage Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim.

After His PassingEdit

In 1990 - approaching the first yahrtzeit - the Rebbe released a maamar in honor of the yahrtzeit.

At the first yahrtzeit farbrengen which fell on Shabbos, the Rebbe spoke at length about his brother-in-law R' Gurary and explained the lesson learned from his name, "Shmaryahu," and its connection to redemption. He also explained his father's name, "Menachem Mendel," which is the name of Moshiach Tzidkeinu. The Rebbe instructed the Yeshiva administration to arrange a farbrengen for the Tmimim for the yahrtzeit.

Following the Rebbe's instruction, the administration arranged a farbrengen every year on the yahrtzeit. The Rebbe gave mashke for the farbrengen and referenced it.

In 1992, after giving a sicha on the night of 7 Adar I - the Rebbe went down to the dollars distribution area, and there gave a remarkable sicha about R' Gurary and the lesson from his name, "Shmaryahu," which indicates he preserved all matters. The Rebbe said in that sicha that all Tomchei Tmimim students worldwide are his students.

His FamilyEdit

His wife, Chana Gurary
His only son, Shalom DovBer (Barry) Gurary

External LinksEdit

ImagesEdit

Rabbi Gurary at the resting place of his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz
Rabbi Gurary lighting Chanukah candles
Collection of photos of Rabbi Gurary
Pidyon Nefesh (redemption of the soul) sent by Rabbi Gurary to the Rebbe - Eve of 10th of Shevat 5734 (1974)
Rabbi Gurary requesting the Rebbe to add a verse to 'Atah Hareisa' - letter sent to the Rebbe on Hoshana Rabbah 5742 (1982)
Photo gallery from the monument unveiling ceremony at his grave
Rabbi Shemarya Gurary and President Shazar

VideoEdit

Unveiling of Rabbi Gurary's monument (14th of Adar I 5749/1989)
Rabbi Gurary receiving 'mashke' from the Rebbe - 13th of Elul 5742 (1982)
The Rebbe praying in the home of the Rashag
The Rebbe's talk about Rabbi Gurary - Night of 7th of Adar I 5752 (1992)
Video from the funeral procession and burial of the Rashag with the participation of the Rebbe and chassidim