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{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}'''Barry Gurary''' (also: '''Gourary''', '''Sholom Dovber'''{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} or '''Berke'''<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mindel|first=Nissan|author-link=Nissan Mindel|date=Dec 2, 2015|title=My Life and Times|magazine=[[Ami (magazine)|Ami]]|issue=245|page=100}}</ref>) (b. in [[Rostov-on-Don]], Russia February 10, 1923, d. [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]], [[New Jersey]], United States March 14, 2005) was a rabbi. He was the nephew of [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]], the seventh [[Chabad|Lubavitcher rebbe]].
{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}'''Barry Gurary''' (also: '''Gourary''', '''Sholom Dovber'''{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} or '''Berke'''<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mindel|first=Nissan|author-link=Nissan Mindel|date=Dec 2, 2015|title=My Life and Times|magazine=[[Ami (magazine)|Ami]]|issue=245|page=100}}</ref>) (b. in [[Rostov-on-Don]], Russia February 10, 1923, d. [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]], [[New Jersey]], United States March 14, 2005) was a rabbi. He was the nephew of Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]], the seventh [[Chabad|Lubavitcher rebbe]].


== Biography ==
==Family origins and history==
Barry Gurary was the only son of Rabbi [[Shemaryahu Gurary]]. He married Mina Haskind, the daughter of Alter Haskind from a prominent [[Chabad]] family.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}
Barry Gurary was the only son of Rabbi [[Shemaryahu Gurary]] and the nephew of Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]]. He married Mina Haskind.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}


Barry Gurary's family relationship with the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, was a source of struggle and friction to himself, the Gurary families and the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community.<ref name="nyt-judge-awards">{{cite news |last1=Goldman |first1=Ari L. |title=JUDGE AWARDS RABBI'S LIBRARY TO HASIDIC UNIT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/07/nyregion/judge-awards-rabbi-s-library-to-hasidic-unit.html |accessdate=26 May 2020 |work=New York Times |date=7 January 1987}}</ref>
Gurary's relationship with Schneerson was a source of friction within the family and the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community.<ref name="nyt-judge-awards">{{cite news |last1=Goldman |first1=Ari L. |title=JUDGE AWARDS RABBI'S LIBRARY TO HASIDIC UNIT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/07/nyregion/judge-awards-rabbi-s-library-to-hasidic-unit.html |accessdate=26 May 2020 |work=New York Times |date=7 January 1987}}</ref>


⚫
One year after the death of his grandfather, [[Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn]], [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]] became the seventh [[rebbe]] of the movement, while Shemaryahu Gurary, Barry Gurary's father, held the same positions he had in the past.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Telushkin|first=Joseph|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/859586312|title=Rebbe: the life and teachings of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the most influential Rabbi in modern history|publisher=HarperWave|year=2014|isbn=978-0-06-231898-5|edition=First|location=New York, NY|oclc=859586312}}</ref>{{bsn|date=January 2023}}
==Place in Chabad-Lubavitch==
⚫
One year after the death of [[Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn|the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe]], his son-in-law Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]] became the choice of most Lubavitchers as the seventh [[Rebbe]] of the movement, while Rabbi [[Shemaryahu Gurary]], Barry Gurary's father, held on to the same positions he had in the past, and was loyal to his brother-in-law, who had become the seventh and was to be the last Rebbe of Chabad.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Telushkin|first=Joseph|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/859586312|title=Rebbe: the life and teachings of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the most influential Rabbi in modern history|publisher=HarperWave|year=2014|isbn=978-0-06-231898-5|edition=First|location=New York, NY|oclc=859586312}}</ref>


===The only grandson of the sixth Rebbe===
=== ''Agudas Chasidei Chabad v. Gourary'' ===
On the occasion of his [[Bar Mitzvah]], his grandfather held a [[farbrengen]].{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} The farbrengen was attended by many thousands of Chassidim from across Eastern Europe and Russia.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} The Bar Mitzvah was seen as a milestone for the Gurary dynasty. Special photographers were invited and the speech that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak gave was published.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}


Gurary's grandfather, Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, collected a large library of Jewish texts, which included several hundred rare volumes. Gurary said he was entitled to a portion of the library and was supported in this by his mother and his grandfather's librarian, Rabbi Chaim Lieberman.<ref name=":0" />
===''Agudas Chasidei Chabad v. Gourary''===


⚫
In 1984, Gurary entered the library and clandestinely removed some books which he sold to rare book dealers. One [[illuminated (manuscript)|illuminated]] Passover Haggadah from 1757 was sold for $69,000 to a Swiss book dealer who soon found a private buyer to pay nearly $150,000 for it. Gurary was observed on a security camera taking the books.<ref name=":0" />
A dispute arose about the library of the sixth Rebbe between Barry Gurary (supported by his mother) and the Chabad community, led by his uncle the seventh Rebbe (and supported by Barry's father, Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary). Barry's grandfather, the sixth Rebbe, collected a vast library of Jewish texts, which included several hundred rare volumes. As the sixth Rebbe's grandson, Barry believed he was entitled to a portion of the library and was supported in this belief by his mother and Rabbi Chaim Lieberman (the sixth Rebbe's librarian).<ref name=":0" />


⚫
Gurary said he had his mother's permission and the permission of his aunt, Menachem Mendel Schneerson's wife, to take the books. His aunt denied giving him permission.<ref name="nyt-books-suit">{{cite news |last1=Margolick |first1=David |title=SUIT ON BOOKS GIVES LOOK AT HASIDIM |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/18/nyregion/suit-on-books-gives-look-at-hasidim.html |accessdate=26 May 2020 |work=New York Times |date=18 December 1985}}</ref> Schneerson demanded that the volumes be returned. When Gurary refused, also refusing Schneerson's summons to a [[Beth Din]] (rabbinical court), Schneerson's legal team sought a temporary restraining order that would impound the books still in Gurary's possession, and a ruling that the library was the property of [[Agudas Chasidei Chabad]], the umbrella organization for the Chasidic movement.<ref name="nyt-books-suit"></ref> Schneerson's legal team included [[Nathan Lewin]], former ambassador [[Jerome J. Shestack]], and future Solicitor General of the United States [[Seth P. Waxman|Seth Waxman]].<ref name=":0" />
⚫
In 1984, some 34 years after his grandfather's death, Barry Gurary entered the library and clandestinely removed numerous Jewish books and began selling them to rare book dealers. One [[illuminated (manuscript)|illuminated]] Passover Haggadah dating back to 1757 was sold for $69,000 to a Swiss book dealer who soon found a private buyer to pay nearly $150,000 for it. Gurary was observed on a security camera taking the books.<ref name=":0" />


⚫
Schneerson said that the volumes were not the "personal possession" of Gurary's grandfather, but the "communal property" of the Lubavitch Hasidim. This view was supported by a letter from Gurary's grandfather indicating that the books were the heritage of the entire Jewish community.<ref name="nyt-judge-awards"></ref><ref name=":0" />
⚫
Gurary claimed to have both his mother's permission, as well as the permission of his aunt, the seventh Rebbe's wife, to take the books. She, however, denied ever giving Barry any such permission.<ref name="nyt-books-suit">{{cite news |last1=Margolick |first1=David |title=SUIT ON BOOKS GIVES LOOK AT HASIDIM |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/18/nyregion/suit-on-books-gives-look-at-hasidim.html |accessdate=26 May 2020 |work=New York Times |date=18 December 1985}}</ref> However, his uncle, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Chabad Rebbe, objected vehemently to these actions and demanded that the volumes be returned. When Barry refused, also refusing his uncle's summons to a [[Beth Din]], Rabbi [[Chaim Yehuda Krinsky]] consulted rabbinic authorities on Jewish law who advised him that appeals can be made to a secular governmental court if justice cannot be effectuated in a Jewish court. Rabbi Schneerson's legal team decided to pursue a temporary restraining order that would impound the books still in Gurary's possession, and to pursue a ruling that the library was the property of [[Agudas Chasidei Chabad]], the umbrella organization for the Chasidic movement.<ref name="nyt-books-suit"></ref> Rabbi Schneerson's legal team included [[Nathan Lewin]], former ambassador [[Jerome J. Shestack]], and future Solicitor General of the United States [[Seth P. Waxman|Seth Waxman]].<ref name=":0" />


⚫
During the court hearing, Gurary's mother supported him while his father supported Schneerson. Schneerson was not deposed, but his wife, [[Chaya Mushka Schneerson]] was. Other witnesses included [[Nobel Peace Prize]] recipient [[Elie Wiesel]], who testified as an expert witness on Chasidic life.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Rabbi Samarious Gourary, 91, an Educator |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/12/obituaries/rabbi-samarious-gourary-91-an-educator.html |accessdate=26 May 2020 |work=New York Times |date=12 February 1989}}</ref>
⚫
Rabbi Schneerson argued that the volumes were not the "personal possession" of Gurary's grandfather, but the "communal property" of the Lubavitch Hasidim. This argument was supported by a letter from Gurary's grandfather indicating that the books were the heritage of the entire Jewish community.<ref name="nyt-judge-awards"></ref><ref name=":0" />


⚫
In 1986, the court ruled in favor of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, and the ruling was upheld on appeal in 1987. Agudas Chassidei Chabad located and paid the various book collectors who had bought the books from Gurary and the volumes were returned to the library. In total, Agudas Chassidei Chabad paid $432,000 to buy back the various books.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
During the court hearing, Gurary's father supported his uncle's side, while his mother supported her son, Barry Gurary. While Rabbi Schneerson was not deposed, his wife, [[Chaya Mushka Schneerson]] was. Included among the witnesses was [[Nobel Peace Prize]] recipient [[Elie Wiesel]], who testified as an expert witness on Chasidic life.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Rabbi Samarious Gourary, 91, an Educator |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/12/obituaries/rabbi-samarious-gourary-91-an-educator.html |accessdate=26 May 2020 |work=New York Times |date=12 February 1989}}</ref>


⚫
Gurary worked as a management consultant.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
In 1986, the court ruled in favor of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, and that ruling was upheld on appeal in 1987. Agudas Chassidei Chabad located and paid the various book collectors who had bought the books from Gurary and the volumes were returned to the library. In total, Agudas Chassidei Chabad paid $432,000 to buy back the various books.<ref name=":0" />

This day was accepted as a special time of rejoicing for Lubavitch, which they called ''Didan Notzach'' ("our side won").<ref name=":0" />

==Career==
Barry Gurary studied and did research as a [[physicist]] at [[Columbia University]] and [[Johns Hopkins University]].{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} Between 1954-1956 he did research at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Silver Spring, MD. There he worked together with Allen Kropf, later Julian H. Gibbs Professor of Chemistry at Amherst College. He also published research papers{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} mostly in [[physics]]{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} that are also available on the Internet, in some instances more than fifty years after their publication.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

⚫
Later in life, Gurary worked as a management consultant.<ref name=":0" />


==Sources and external links==
==Sources and external links==

Latest revision as of 02:34, 17 February 2024

Barry Gurary (also: Gourary, Sholom Dovber[citation needed] or Berke[1]) (b. in Rostov-on-Don, Russia February 10, 1923, d. Montclair, New Jersey, United States March 14, 2005) was a rabbi. He was the nephew of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher rebbe.

Biography

[edit]

Barry Gurary was the only son of Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary and the nephew of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. He married Mina Haskind.[citation needed]

Gurary's relationship with Schneerson was a source of friction within the family and the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community.[2]

One year after the death of his grandfather, Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, Menachem Mendel Schneerson became the seventh rebbe of the movement, while Shemaryahu Gurary, Barry Gurary's father, held the same positions he had in the past.[3][better source needed]

Agudas Chasidei Chabad v. Gourary

[edit]

Gurary's grandfather, Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, collected a large library of Jewish texts, which included several hundred rare volumes. Gurary said he was entitled to a portion of the library and was supported in this by his mother and his grandfather's librarian, Rabbi Chaim Lieberman.[3]

In 1984, Gurary entered the library and clandestinely removed some books which he sold to rare book dealers. One illuminated Passover Haggadah from 1757 was sold for $69,000 to a Swiss book dealer who soon found a private buyer to pay nearly $150,000 for it. Gurary was observed on a security camera taking the books.[3]

Gurary said he had his mother's permission and the permission of his aunt, Menachem Mendel Schneerson's wife, to take the books. His aunt denied giving him permission.[4] Schneerson demanded that the volumes be returned. When Gurary refused, also refusing Schneerson's summons to a Beth Din (rabbinical court), Schneerson's legal team sought a temporary restraining order that would impound the books still in Gurary's possession, and a ruling that the library was the property of Agudas Chasidei Chabad, the umbrella organization for the Chasidic movement.[4] Schneerson's legal team included Nathan Lewin, former ambassador Jerome J. Shestack, and future Solicitor General of the United States Seth Waxman.[3]

Schneerson said that the volumes were not the "personal possession" of Gurary's grandfather, but the "communal property" of the Lubavitch Hasidim. This view was supported by a letter from Gurary's grandfather indicating that the books were the heritage of the entire Jewish community.[2][3]

During the court hearing, Gurary's mother supported him while his father supported Schneerson. Schneerson was not deposed, but his wife, Chaya Mushka Schneerson was. Other witnesses included Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel, who testified as an expert witness on Chasidic life.[3][5]

In 1986, the court ruled in favor of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, and the ruling was upheld on appeal in 1987. Agudas Chassidei Chabad located and paid the various book collectors who had bought the books from Gurary and the volumes were returned to the library. In total, Agudas Chassidei Chabad paid $432,000 to buy back the various books.[3]

Gurary worked as a management consultant.[3]

[edit]
  • Chmouel Lubecki: "Didan Notzach"
  • Sholom Ber Levin: "Mishpat HaSfarim"
  • Moshe Bogomilsky: "The story of Hey Teves"
  • Pesach Burston: "Tshura - Hey Teves - South Africa"
  • Shaul Shimon Deutsch, Larger than Life
  • Avrum M. Ehrlich, Leadership in the HaBaD Movement ISBN 0-7657-6055-X

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mindel, Nissan (Dec 2, 2015). "My Life and Times". Ami. No. 245. p. 100.
  2. ^ a b Goldman, Ari L. (7 January 1987). "JUDGE AWARDS RABBI'S LIBRARY TO HASIDIC UNIT". New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Telushkin, Joseph (2014). Rebbe: the life and teachings of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the most influential Rabbi in modern history (First ed.). New York, NY: HarperWave. ISBN 978-0-06-231898-5. OCLC 859586312.
  4. ^ a b Margolick, David (18 December 1985). "SUIT ON BOOKS GIVES LOOK AT HASIDIM". New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Rabbi Samarious Gourary, 91, an Educator". New York Times. 12 February 1989. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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