metro

Farewell, Dear Rabbi from page 14

Karen
Davidson,
congregant
of Bloomfield
Hills

Hy Safran,
a Shaarey
Zedek trustee
and the son
and grand-
son of past
congregation
presidents

Rabbi Groner with Cardinal
Adam J. Maida, archbishop
emeritus of Detroit

Former
Gov. James
Blanchard

16 January 10 • 2013

"I became a Jew by choice after Bill
and I were married. Rabbi Groner
led me through the conversion, and
I remember the meetings that we
had as being so thought-provoking,
interesting and always with a touch
of what I call Jewish humor. He
had a very, very sharp mind, and
I feel so privileged to have known
him. His love of Israel, Judaism
and his family was so pure."

"I was not only fortunate to have
been his congregant, but I was
extraordinarily lucky to have
shared many close moments with
Rabbi Groner — at his home, at
my home, on the bimah and in his
study.
"He was and forever will be a
rabbi's rabbi, a giant of a leader,
an indescribable tzaddik [righteous
man] and a gentle, personal friend
to me — and countless others."

"Rabbi Groner was a dear friend
who generously shared his many
spiritual gifts with me and other
religious leaders in our community.
"He and I shared a reciprocal
presence and friendship with one
another, focused on religion and
our community. His leadership in
helping build the Religious Leaders
Forum in the 1990s, which came
to bring together religious leaders
of many faiths, was truly inspiring
for the religious community in
Metro Detroit.

"In addition to being an
outstanding leader in the Jewish
community of greater Detroit,
Rabbi Groner was a towering
figure in Michigan public life. He
will be missed by so many of us as
a true friend."

Rabbi Groner at Shaarey Zedek in 1967

Civility, Humility, Optimism
Son David Groner, a Wayne County Circuit
Court judge, said of his father, "Being a
rabbi was his calling. He loved being a
rabbi, and he loved this congregation. That's
why we all feel a great sense of loss today.
"He spent his life trying to improve the lot
of others — and there was no limit to how
he would do so.
"My father's civility,
humility and optimism
touched everyone he
met:' David Groner said.
"And because of this, he
was able to transcend
ideological boundaries
with other faiths and
David Groner
other community leaders
to strengthen the kinship
of mankind.
"Even years after his retirement, that
spark never left him, and people still looked
up to my father with the utmost reverence
and respect. He was a moral authority in the
community whose legacy lives on. He never
held a grudge, never had a mean word to
say about anyone, and he was always con-
cerned about the people in his life:'
Rabbi Alan B. Lucas of
Temple Beth Sholom in
Roslyn Heights, N.Y., an
assistant rabbi at Shaarey
Zedek from 1979-1981,
cited Rabbi Groner's role
as a mentor. "I am the
rabbi I am today, thanks
to the love and the guid-
Rabbi Alan
ance of Rabbi Groner; he
Lucas
said.
"There are few rabbis who were more
respected than Rabbi Groner — but truth
be told, there were few rabbis more beloved
than him as well.
"This great synagogue benefited from
some remarkable lay leadership," said Rabbi
Lucas. "Names like Bill Davidson, David

Rabbi Groner meeting Russian immi-
grants in Israel.

Leypsa and Rabbi Groner visit Israeli
Prime Minister Menachem Begin and
grandchild.

Hermelin, Max Fisher — these were leaders
who not only shaped this congregation and
Detroit Jewry, but also left their impact on
American and World Jewry.
"Was it just Rabbi Groner's good fortune
to be in the right place at the right time
— or is it possible that his passion and his
leadership, his wisdom and his compassion
helped forge this unique time and space?
"These leaders saw greatness in Rabbi
Groner; they were drawn to him and loyal
to him and inspired by him:' said Rabbi
Lucas. "I have rarely seen a group of more
devoted and loyal leaders as the ones who
created and maintained this great syna-
gogue. This, too, was a tribute to Rabbi
Groner's great leadership.

Farewell, Dear Rabbi on page 18