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Farewell, Dear Rabbi from page 16
Impact Beyond Detroit
WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF
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FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO
OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY.
ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE ' CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE
CONGREGATION BETH AHM , TEMPLE EMANU-EL
TEMPLE BETH EL • TEMPLE ISRAEL , DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE
TEMPLE KOL AMI ' BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM • TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM
BIRMINGHAM TEMPLE • CONGREGATION SHIR TIKVAH
B'NAI ISRAEL • CONGREGATION T'CHIYAH
1806510
Referring to Rabbi Groner's ascent
to the Conservative rabbinate's high-
est post, president of the Rabbinical
Assembly, Rabbi Krakoff said, "in so
doing, not only did he bring great
honor to our shul, but an unprec-
edented 80-plus Shaarey Zedek mem-
bers traveled to the Concord [Hotel
in New York] in 1990 to see Rabbi
Groner inducted into the presidency!'
Rabbi Jonathan Berkun, formerly of
Shaarey Zedek, read a statement from
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson of the
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies,
American Jewish University, in Los
Angeles. Rabbi Artson praised Rabbi
Irwin Groner as a Jewish communal
leader on the national and interna-
tional stage.
"As he rose
through the ranks
of the Rabbinical
Assembly:' wrote
Rabbi Artson, "the
warmth of his per-
sonality and the
dignity of his wis-
Rabbi Brad
dom invited those
Artson
with influence and
power to turn to
him to utilize his skills and insight"
Regarding the 10-year project
that Rabbi Groner helmed that led
to the new Conservative chumash,
Etz Chayim, Rabbi Artson wrote, "It
was his leadership and guidance that
made this publication possible and
significantly enhanced its contents"
Rabbi Lucas read a tribute to Rabbi
Groner issued by the Rabbinical
Assembly:
"In addition to being wise and
compassionate, a marvelous speaker
and preacher, he had the capacity to
embrace those with whom he differed
in a spirit of awe for God's mysterious
gift of many paths to holiness. He was
a religious inspiration to our rabbis
who, these two decades later, still
revere his leadership:'
Love, Devotion, Faith
Frankel Jewish Academy
mourns the passing of
Rabbi Irwin Groner
His memory will always be a blessing
to our community.
Rabbi Eric Grossman
Head of School
18 January 10 • 2013
JN
William Newman
President
In his eulogy, David Groner spoke
about the love between his father
and his mother, Leypsa. But he also
made reference to the struggles in his
father's life, his long battle with the
effects of Parkinson's disease and the
death of daughter, Debbie.
"Even in the face of personal suf-
fering and the difficulty he faced with
the progression of his disease, Dad
was never bitter, was never cynical
and never lost the commitment of his
calling" David said. "His love, devo-
tion and faith never wavered. He was
never angry at God.
"When Debbie died, we all hurt, yet
my father somehow found the person-
al strength to deliver the eulogy; cry-
ing in private, but maintaining com-
posure and strength in public. Despite
such a loss, he never lost faith in God
and never lost faith in humanity"
Renewing Jewish Faith
Rabbi Aaron Starr of Shaarey Zedek
read a passage from Rabbi Groner's
book Renewing Jewish Faith, which
reflected on how people should find
joy and meaning in each stage of their
lives.
"If we learn how to grow in knowl-
edge" wrote Rabbi Groner, "if we
affirm our capacity for life, if we
renew our faith, we shall attain wis-
dom greater than learning, content-
ment richer than wealth:'
"'Wisdom greater
than learning, con-
tentment richer
than wealth:" noted
Rabbi Starr. "Such
was the life of Rabbi
Irwin Groner, a man
of wisdom, a man of
contentment. May
Rabbi Aaron
his name always be
Starr
remembered for a
blessing!'
At the conclusion of the funeral,
Rabbi Krakoff bid his beloved rabbi
farewell.
"Rabbi, we will never forget your
impact, your influence, your inspira-
tion and your unconditional love.
"Shalom, Ray — rest in peace,
Rabbi Groner"
Rabbi Irwin Groner is survived by
his beloved wife of 59 years, Leypsa
Groner; sons and daughter-in-law,
Judges David Groner and Amy
Hathaway, Dr. Joel Groner; Judge
Hathaway's children, Lisa, Stephen
and Kathryn; sister, Sarah Barach;
and his friend and caregiver, Marek
Stepniak.
He was the loving father of the late
Deborah "Debbie" Groner; the dear
brother of the late Rabbi Benjamin
Groner, the late Rabbi Oscar Groner,
the late Julius Groner, the late Morton
Groner and the late Ruth Rosenbaum;
the devoted son of the late Rabbi Max
Groner and the late Beatrice Lehrfield
Groner.
Interment was at Clover Hill
Park Cemetery. Contributions
may be made to Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, Rabbi Irwin Groner
Publication Fund, 27375 Bell Road,
Southfield, MI 48034, (248) 357-
5544, www.shaareyzedek.org ; or
Frankel Jewish Academy, Debbie
Groner Book Fund, 6600 West Maple
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322,
(248) 592-5263, www.frankelja.org.
Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ❑