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Shemaryahu Gurary

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Rabbi Shmarya Gurary (1 Kislev 5658 – 6 Adar I 5749; known by the acronym the Rashag) was the son-in-law of the Rebbe Rayatz, the brother-in-law of the Rebbe, and the director of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva network. On Shemini Atzeres 5731, the Rebbe appointed him as the "baal habayis" — the designated steward[1] — for the country of Egypt (which he had visited together with the Rebbe Rayatz).

Life

 
The Rebbe offering mashke to the Rashag during a farbrengen
 
The Rashag at the entrance to 770, supported by the Rebbe's personal attendant Reb Berel Junik. Behind him, Reb Chanina Shperlin can be seen.

He was born in Kremenchug, Russia, on Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5658, to the distinguished chassid Rabbi Menachem Mendel Guraria[2] — one of the foremost chassidim of the Rebbe Rashab — and to Leshine.

He studied at Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch.

On 12 Tammuz 5680[3] — three months after the histalkus (passing) of the Rebbe Rashab — the tena'im (betrothal) between him and the daughter of the Rebbe Rayatz, Marat Chana Guraria, were celebrated. On 11 Sivan 5681, their wedding took place in Rostov. The wedding, held barely a year after the passing of the Rebbe Rashab, took place in a somber atmosphere — there was not even dancing.[4]

From the time of his marriage, he lived his entire life in close proximity to his father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz, and became deeply involved in communal work. The Rebbe Rayatz appointed him as "Managing Director" and Chairman of the Central Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch yeshiva network worldwide — a position he filled with devotion for many years, until his final day.

During the arrest and liberation of the Rebbe Rayatz, the Rashag played an active role in the various efforts to secure his release. He accompanied the Rebbe Rayatz when he left Russia for Riga, Latvia, and then for Poland. He also traveled with his father-in-law on his visit to Eretz Yisrael in 5689 [1929] and his visit to the United States.

Between[5] Tishrei 5695 and Sivan 5697, he resided — together with his family — in Eretz HaKodesh, living for a period in Tel Aviv and traveling periodically to Eastern Europe for various occasions, including his son's bar mitzvah, which was held in the presence of the Rebbe Rayatz in Warsaw in 5696.

From his correspondence during this period it is clear that he was exploring the possibility of establishing an Agudas Chassidei Chabad organization in Eretz Yisrael, working to obtain immigration certificates for Jews from Russia, and purchasing land in various locations. His letters also indicate that he wished to return to Eretz Yisrael permanently — a plan that was apparently overtaken by the outbreak of World War II.[6]

When he arrived in the United States together with the Rebbe Rayatz, his residence was set on the third floor of 770 Eastern Parkway. By the instruction of the Rebbe Rayatz[7], the Rashag would farbreng and repeat a maamar — a formal Chassidic discourse — every Shabbos at Reva DeRavin (the late Shabbos afternoon gathering) at 770.

His Bond with the Rebbe

 
Rabbi Shmarya Guraria seated in his permanent place at the Rebbe's farbrengens

After the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz and the beginning of his brother-in-law the Rebbe's leadership, the Rashag attached himself to the Rebbe with his entire being[8] — and in particular from Purim 5712 onward.

At the farbrengen of Shabbos Parshas Beshalach 5714, he asked the Rebbe for a blessing for a yeshiva dinner with no conditions attached, and the Rebbe replied that he was conveying what he had been told.

On the first night of Pesach 5729, he asked to be included in the Rebbe's chaburah — the intimate group — for the Pesach Seder, together with their father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz. At the Rebbe's farbrengens, he sat at the Rebbe's side. During the Hakafos of Simchas Torah — the first and seventh Hakafos of the Rebbe, when the Rebbe would dance on the bimah with a Sefer Torah in hand[9] — it was the Rebbe's custom to dance together with the Rashag.[10]

At the farbrengen of Acharon Shel Pesach 5713, the Rashag said to the Rebbe — speaking with the candor of one who had drunk a little — :

It is clear to me that you will lead us toward Moshiach! The sole heir of the Baal Shem Tov is my brother-in-law. I hand over to you all the strengths I possess as the senior son-in-law. I have said this at the Ohel, and I say it now in public. On one condition only — that you keep me as our father-in-law kept me.

He also asked the Rebbe's forgiveness for some incident that had occurred after the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz.[11]

For many years, the Rashag was the only one among all the elder chassidim standing behind the Rebbe who would rise to his feet when the Rebbe delivered a maamar k'ein sicha — a discourse in the style of a sicha.

In a letter sent by the Rashag on 18 Marcheshvan 5738 to Reb Shneur Zalman Gurvitch of Montreal, he wrote:

Without any doubt whatsoever, all those in the supernal world in Gan Eden delight in the expansion of Tomchei Temimim in the United States. When you come from time to time to visit my brother-in-law the Rebbe — may the Almighty send him a complete and speedy recovery[12] and fulfill all the wishes of his heart for good and blessing and length of good days, amen — he sees with his own eyes the Temimim students standing crowded into every corner of the beis midrash, their eyes and their entire being fixed on listening to the words of my brother-in-law the Rebbe, hanging on every syllable that issues from his holy mouth, always ready with absolute self-sacrifice to spread the wellsprings of Torah and Chassidus outward, to every corner of the world.[13]

When his only son, Shalom DovBer Guraria, stole the books from the Lubavitch Library in 5745 [1985], the Rashag opposed this act. As a result, both his wife Chana Guraria and his son left his home.

This was a wondrous display of mesirat nefesh and an immense bond with the Rebbe — it became plain for all to see that even though his wife and son had left him over their dispute concerning the Rebbe, he remained alone in his home, out of his complete self-nullification and devotion.

Passing

 
The Rashag's tziyun near the Ohel — New York
 
A letter from the Rashag to the Rebbe, written before he returned home on Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5738: "...Since I have heard that my brother-in-law the Rebbe will return home today — in good health — I hereby wish..."
 
The Rebbe at the Rashag's tziyun

In his final years the Rashag was ill and frail, and bochurim from the Central Tomchei Temimim yeshiva at 770 attended to his needs.

On the morning of Shabbos Kodesh, 6 Adar I 5749, the Rashag passed away. At the farbrengen that Shabbos, the Rebbe made reference to his passing, speaking of those who had received from the Rebbe Rayatz the strength to lead the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva.[14] The next day, his funeral was held at Montefiore Cemetery, where he was interred beside the Ohel of his father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz. The Rebbe attended the funeral, and afterward offered condolences to his son, and then entered the Ohel.

After His Passing

Throughout the seven days of mourning, the Rebbe davened in the Rashag's apartment on the third floor of 770. He also instructed that a special edition of the Tanya be printed for the elevation of his soul, and that the printing be completed within the seven days of shiva. On Sunday, 14 Adar I (Purim Katan), the matzevah was erected over his grave. The Rebbe addressed this the previous day at the Shabbos farbrengen,[15] and he attended the matzevah-setting ceremony.

In 5750 [1990], in advance of the first yahrzeit, the Rebbe published a maamar in honor of the occasion.[16]

At the farbrengen of the first yahrzeit — which fell on Shabbos — the Rebbe spoke at length about his brother-in-law the Rashag, and explained the lesson to be drawn from his name, "Shmarya" — meaning "G-d has guarded" — and its connection to the theme of the Redemption. He also explained his father's name, "Menachem Mendel," which is the name of Moshiach Tzidkeinu — our righteous Moshiach. The Rebbe instructed the yeshiva administration to hold a farbrengen for the Temimim students on the yahrzeit.[17]

In accordance with the Rebbe's instruction, the administration held a farbrengen each year on the yahrzeit. The Rebbe would provide mashke — spirits — for the farbrengen and make reference to the occasion.[18]

In 5752 [1992], after a sicha the Rebbe delivered on the night of 7 Adar I, the Rebbe descended to the place where he distributed dollars, and there delivered a remarkable sicha about the Rashag and the lesson of his name — "Shmarya," meaning he who preserved and safeguarded everything. The Rebbe added in that sicha that all the students of Tomchei Temimim in every corner of the world are his students.[19]

In 5775 [2015], a new Sefer Torah was written and brought into 770 for the elevation of the Rashag's soul.[20]

His Family

Further Reading

External Links

Photographs
Video

References

  1. ↑ See at length the article on the Chassidic UN.
  2. ↑ In his sicha delivered near the first yahrzeit of the Rashag's passing (Shabbos Parshas Terumah, 5750), the Rebbe explained the name of Reb Menachem Mendel, the Rashag's father, noting that "it is known from our Sages that Moshiach's name is Menachem, and also Mendel." See there.
  3. ↑ Shmuos VeSipurim, vol. 1, p. 199.
  4. ↑ Shmuos VeSipurim, ibid., p. 201.
  5. ↑ The following section is based on an archive of letters in the possession of Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi, containing many letters from Rabbi Alter Simchovitch. The relevant excerpts appeared in the book HaRav Ashkenazi.
  6. ↑ HaRav Ashkenazi, vol. 2, pp. 165 ff.
  7. ↑ Given at the time of the Rashag's betrothal.
  8. ↑ It is told that at first it was difficult for him to accept the authority of his brother-in-law the Rebbe, who was even younger than him. But among the reasons he cited for his complete self-nullification before the Rebbe was the following story, which he later related to Rabbi Azriel Zelig Slonim: Once he decided to consult his brother-in-law the Rebbe about a certain matter. The Rebbe weighed the issue carefully and said he did not wish to take responsibility for such a matter — but that he was visiting the Ohel that day and would ask the Rebbe Rayatz there. Said the Rashag: "My brother-in-law the Rebbe — I will not exaggerate. If he said he intended to speak with his father-in-law at the Ohel, then that is what happened. And I know about myself that I am not capable of this — and that is why I am devoted to him with heart and soul."
  9. ↑ Until 5748.
  10. ↑ In 5741, the Rashag was hospitalized and could not participate in the Hakafos. When he was later told that the Rebbe had danced alone and not with anyone else, he was greatly pleased. (Told by Rabbi Chaim Levi Yitzchak Ginsburg — Beis Moshiach Weekly, issue 1008.)
  11. ↑ From the diary of Rabbi Yoel Kohn.
  12. ↑ The letter was written following the Rebbe's health episode on Shemini Atzeres 5738.
  13. ↑ The letter was published in Kfar Chabad, issue 374, p. 23.
  14. ↑ Sicha of Shabbos Parshas Terumah, 6 Adar I 5749.
  15. ↑ Sicha of Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh, Erev Purim Katan 5749.
  16. ↑ The maamar Kol Yisroel 5733, printed in Sefer HaMaamarim Melukat, vol. 4.
  17. ↑ Sicha of Shabbos Parshas Terumah, 6 Adar 5750.
  18. ↑ See Sicha of Shabbos Parshas Terumah, 2 Adar 5751.
  19. ↑ Audio of the sicha from 7 Adar I 5752.
  20. ↑ "770: Hachnosas Sefer Torah for the Soul of the Rashag" — Chabad Info.

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