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 klal 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.

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.