Yitzchak Dovid Groner

Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Groner (24 Nissan 5685 - 4 Tammuz 5768) [April 18, 1925 - July 7, 2008] was the Rebbe's shliach in Melbourne, Australia, the rabbi of the Chabad community, and founder of the local Chabad institutions. Additionally, he was known as a bearer of tradition who passed down many stories of Chassidim and customs of our Rebbeim.

Life History

Born on 24 Nissan 5685 in Brooklyn, New York, to his father Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Groner and his mother Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel who was a descendant of the Alter Rebbe and Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel. He was a member of the Chabad delegation to the Joint.

On 28 Sivan 5701 [June 23, 1941], he entered to study at the central Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim 770.

On 7 Elul 5706 [September 4, 1946], he married Devorah, daughter of Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Konikov, and merited to have the Rebbe as the mesader kiddushin (officiant) at his wedding.

In 5704 [1944], he was appointed as the head of Yeshivas Achei Tmimim Rochester, and on 23 Menachem Av 5705 [August 4, 1945], with the establishment of Yeshivas Achei Tmimim Providence, he was appointed as the rosh yeshiva there.

In 5707 [1947], he was sent as a shadar (emissary) to Australia.

Later, until 5717 [1957], he led a community in Chicago, and in 5718 [1958], he was sent by the Rebbe to Australia and established there a powerhouse of institutions and activities.

In his later years, he suffered from several serious illnesses, and his son-in-law Rabbi Tzvi Telsner filled his position.

He passed away on Monday, 4 Tammuz 5768 [July 7, 2008] in the morning, at the age of eighty-two. He was laid to rest in Jerusalem.

His wife lived a long life and passed away at the age of 92 in 5778 [2018].

In 5781 [2021], Chaim Mehlman published a book about his life story called "Larger than Life."

Some of his sons and daughters continue his shlichus in important roles in Melbourne.

His Family

• His brother, the Rebbe's personal secretary Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner.
• His brother, Moshe Groner.
• His son, Rabbi Shalom Dovber Groner, rabbi and mashpia of the Chabad community in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• His son, Rabbi Yosef Groner, shliach in the Bentleigh neighborhood, Melbourne.
• His son, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner, his replacement as the Rebbe's shliach to Australia, rabbi of the central Chabad institutions and rabbi of the Ohel Devorah synagogue in Melbourne.
• His son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Groner, shliach in the Glen Eira neighborhood, Melbourne.
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Telsner, his replacement as rabbi of the community in Melbourne, dayan and posek.
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Dovid Haller, shliach in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak Tzirkind - rabbi, posek and educator in Crown Heights.
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Shimshon Yurkowitz - shliach in the Malvern neighborhood, Melbourne.

Further Reading

• Shneur Zalman Berger, Creator of the Revolution Through the Power of the Sender, Beis Moshiach weekly magazine issue 657 page 26