What if R. Shmaryahu Gourary became the Lubavitcher Rebbe?
What if scenario by Schneur Zalman of NY:
In light of Roth's new novel The Plot Against America, I thought this would be interesting. Let me know what you think.
As we approach 7th Adar we commemorate the 15th Yahrzeit of the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Shmaryahu Gourary, who died in 5749.
After serving as his father in law's right hand man, Rabbi Gourary took a dormant Chassidic group and rebuilt it as a small but intellectually significant movement in Orthodox Judaism. While Lubavitch is hardly a large group, its scholarship, piety and mystical bent lend it a great deal of prestige in all Orthodox circles. Although he faced much opposition in his attempt to succeed his father in law the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, R. Joseph I. Schneerson, he eventually was able to direct and mold the Lubavitch movement in his own personality. By early 1951 most Lubavitcher people recognized him as the new Rebbe.
While his scholarly brother in law and one time rival R. Menachem Schneerson directed the Lubavitch day school movement, Gourary concentrated on developing the Lubavitcher yeshivas Talmudic institutions into world class institutions.
Among his first appointments was that of Rabbi Mordecai Savitsky of Boston as Dean of the Lubavitcher Central Yeshiva. Following Savitsky's departure in 1962, he was replaced by Rabbi Aaron Soloveitchik brother of the Rav. Rabbi Aaron served as dean of the Central Lubavitcher yeshiva until serious illness in the 1990's forced his retirement. As such the Central Lubavitcher yeshiva acquired the reputation of a leading Talmudical academy and produced more than a few serious talmudists amongst them Rabbi Leib Groner the current dean of the institution. As dean Groner is assisted by Soloveichik's son and a number of other classical Talmudists.
The Rebbe did not forget Chabad's mystical roots and concentrated on the classic Chabad Chasidic studies as well. The Rebbe's chozer rabbi Eliahu Chaim Carlebach together with Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Gourary directed the Chassidic studies program. Rabbi Gourary maintained close relationships with the leaders of the Yeshiva world as well as with other Chasidic leaders. He forged close relationships with the Agudath Israel and America In 1966 his movement faced a serious crisis as the changing nature of Crown Heights forced the Rebbe to move to Borough Park, Brooklyn where he re-established Lubavitch world headquarters. Yet this move was opposed by his brother in law Rabbi Menachem Schneerson who remained in Crown Heights. Although never officially assuming the title of Rebbe, Schneerson assumed some functions of a Rebbe and served as spiritual leader of the remaining in Crown Heights Lubavitchers.
Rabbi Gourary was a friend of the state of Israel and encouraged his followers in building KFAR CHABAD. Gourary visited Israel almost every year and was warmly welcomed by the states political and religious leaders.
As the 7th Rebbe aged speculation grew over his future successor. Some Chabad followers saw Rabbi Menachem Schneerson as the appropriate successor, but R. Schneerson himself was not much younger than the Rebbe. Others saw the Rebbe's son Dr. Barry S. Gourary as the next Rebbe. Barry Gourary an ordained rabbi worked as an engineer in Washington, DC, but maintained a close relationship to his father. In the early 1980's he directed the establishment of a Chabad community in upstate New Jersey known as Kirtath Yosef Yitzchok currently numbering about 1,000 residents. Indeed following his father's death the younger Gourary assumed leadership of the movement and attempted to draw the movement closer to modern technology and scientific ideas. He divides his time between Brooklyn and upstate New York. Currently speculation is rife about the next Lubavitcher Rebbe as the younger Gourary is aging , childless and seriously ill. Rumor has it that the sons of the long time dean of Lubavitch yeshivas in Israel, Rabbi Baruch S. Schneerson are in line for leadership. Other rumors point to Gourary's brother in law rabbi Shalom Haskind who has acted as Gourary's executive assistant for many years.
The 7th Rebbe Shmaryahu Gourary accomplished much as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he rebuilt his movement in the New World. Zecher Zaddik Livrocho!
In light of Roth's new novel The Plot Against America, I thought this would be interesting. Let me know what you think.
As we approach 7th Adar we commemorate the 15th Yahrzeit of the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Shmaryahu Gourary, who died in 5749.
After serving as his father in law's right hand man, Rabbi Gourary took a dormant Chassidic group and rebuilt it as a small but intellectually significant movement in Orthodox Judaism. While Lubavitch is hardly a large group, its scholarship, piety and mystical bent lend it a great deal of prestige in all Orthodox circles. Although he faced much opposition in his attempt to succeed his father in law the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, R. Joseph I. Schneerson, he eventually was able to direct and mold the Lubavitch movement in his own personality. By early 1951 most Lubavitcher people recognized him as the new Rebbe.
While his scholarly brother in law and one time rival R. Menachem Schneerson directed the Lubavitch day school movement, Gourary concentrated on developing the Lubavitcher yeshivas Talmudic institutions into world class institutions.
Among his first appointments was that of Rabbi Mordecai Savitsky of Boston as Dean of the Lubavitcher Central Yeshiva. Following Savitsky's departure in 1962, he was replaced by Rabbi Aaron Soloveitchik brother of the Rav. Rabbi Aaron served as dean of the Central Lubavitcher yeshiva until serious illness in the 1990's forced his retirement. As such the Central Lubavitcher yeshiva acquired the reputation of a leading Talmudical academy and produced more than a few serious talmudists amongst them Rabbi Leib Groner the current dean of the institution. As dean Groner is assisted by Soloveichik's son and a number of other classical Talmudists.
The Rebbe did not forget Chabad's mystical roots and concentrated on the classic Chabad Chasidic studies as well. The Rebbe's chozer rabbi Eliahu Chaim Carlebach together with Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Gourary directed the Chassidic studies program. Rabbi Gourary maintained close relationships with the leaders of the Yeshiva world as well as with other Chasidic leaders. He forged close relationships with the Agudath Israel and America In 1966 his movement faced a serious crisis as the changing nature of Crown Heights forced the Rebbe to move to Borough Park, Brooklyn where he re-established Lubavitch world headquarters. Yet this move was opposed by his brother in law Rabbi Menachem Schneerson who remained in Crown Heights. Although never officially assuming the title of Rebbe, Schneerson assumed some functions of a Rebbe and served as spiritual leader of the remaining in Crown Heights Lubavitchers.
Rabbi Gourary was a friend of the state of Israel and encouraged his followers in building KFAR CHABAD. Gourary visited Israel almost every year and was warmly welcomed by the states political and religious leaders.
As the 7th Rebbe aged speculation grew over his future successor. Some Chabad followers saw Rabbi Menachem Schneerson as the appropriate successor, but R. Schneerson himself was not much younger than the Rebbe. Others saw the Rebbe's son Dr. Barry S. Gourary as the next Rebbe. Barry Gourary an ordained rabbi worked as an engineer in Washington, DC, but maintained a close relationship to his father. In the early 1980's he directed the establishment of a Chabad community in upstate New Jersey known as Kirtath Yosef Yitzchok currently numbering about 1,000 residents. Indeed following his father's death the younger Gourary assumed leadership of the movement and attempted to draw the movement closer to modern technology and scientific ideas. He divides his time between Brooklyn and upstate New York. Currently speculation is rife about the next Lubavitcher Rebbe as the younger Gourary is aging , childless and seriously ill. Rumor has it that the sons of the long time dean of Lubavitch yeshivas in Israel, Rabbi Baruch S. Schneerson are in line for leadership. Other rumors point to Gourary's brother in law rabbi Shalom Haskind who has acted as Gourary's executive assistant for many years.
The 7th Rebbe Shmaryahu Gourary accomplished much as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he rebuilt his movement in the New World. Zecher Zaddik Livrocho!
posted by Tzemach Atlas at 7:45 AM
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