Yehuda Leib "Leibel" Groner ā a Hasidic Jewish teacher, scholar, and author – died on April 7, 2020 from Covid-19.
He had served as the personal secretary to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, for 44 years.
His parents were Rabbi Mordechai Avrohom Yeshaya Groner and Menucha Rochel Groner. Groner studied at the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where he excelled as a student.
Groner is a co-author, with Volf Greenglass of Montreal, of Sefer HaMinhagim, the authoritative book describing Chabad-Lubavitch customs. He was also an editor of Otzar HaChasidim, the editorial group that publishes works on Chabad Chassidut. He also taught at Beis Rivka in Crown Heights, a school for girls who are part of the Chabad-Lubavitch community.
Groner's connection to Schneerson began at Groner's bar mitzvah celebration, where, as a guest, Schneerson spoke for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Several years later, in 1949, Schneerson asked Groner to join the team of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, working in the Kehot Publication Society, thus adding Groner to his secretariat.
In 5711 (1951) Schneerson officially assumed leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch. At that point the Rebbe asked Groner to become his assistant. Groner's role working for Schneerson was similar to that of a chief of staff. He maintained that role until the Rebbe's death on 3 Tammuz 5754, (12 June 1994.)
He was a longtime secretary to the rebbe who enjoyed widespread respect and affection among Lubavitch leaders for most of his years of service. After Schneerson's death, Groner went on to become a public speaker, traveling the world retelling many of his encounters with Schneerson.
Groner was in recent years associated with a number of right-wing campaigns. In 2005 he was part of a delegation along with Menachem Brod who had a "heated debate" with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, pleading with him to not give away land, something be believed which the nation of Israel would soon regret.
Groner died of COVID-19 on April 7, 2020, at the age of 88, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the funeral took place in a more muted fashion with social distancing procedures in place. The Rabbinical Alliance of America released a statement upon his passing mourning Groner as "one of the most prominent figures in Lubavitch of the last generation".