Why didn't Rabbi I.D.Groner appoint Chaim Tzvi Groner as the Rabbi of Melbourne??????
Chabad of Melbourne CBD
Chabad of Melbourne CBD today issued the following statement in connection with the actions taken by Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner.
Regretfully, once again the smear campaign to discredit Rabbi Chaim Herzog and seek to change the balance of power relating to Jewish outreach in Melbourne’s downtown Central Business District (the CBD) are continuing.
For the record, it is well known and documented that Rabbi Chaim Herzog was appointed as a Shliach by the late Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner A”H to Melbourne’s Central Business District (an area that is now thriving after 15+ years of leadership under Rabbi Chaim Herzog)
Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner has once again attempted to fulfill his own personal agenda with libelous actions that are clearly motivated by self-serving goals, including but not limited, to removing Rabbi Herzog’s endorsement in favor of David Werdiger and his organization, Jews of the CBD, a non-sanctioned mirror organization of Rabbi Herzog’s Chabad House, commonly referred to in Chabad circles as a “mushroom” organization. For a number of years now, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner has been ingeniously supporting Werdiger and the mushroom organization in defiance of generally accepted protocols.
Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner does not unilaterally have jurisdiction to withdraw the endorsement of Chabad Shluchim. There are three recognized Head Shluchim in Melbourne who were jointly appointed by Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, namely:
1. Rabbi Yossel Gutnick
2. Rabbi Arel Serebryanski
3. Rabbi C.T. Groner
Pursuant to the Agreements put in place following the passing of Rabbi Y.D. Groner A”H several years ago, a change to an appointed Shliach such as Rabbi Herzog is required to be signed off by all 3 Head Shluchim.
In this case, Chaim Tzvi Groner is acting ALONE. He does not have the required support of the other two Head Shluchim.
Chabad of Melbourne CBD and its duly appointed Shliach, Rabbi Chaim Herzog call upon Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner to immediately cease and desist from these slanderous actions of Rabbinical overreaching.
To our supporters and constituents, we thank you for your continuing and ongoing support and advise that it’s business as usual for Chabad of Melbourne CBD.
