Rabbi Groner was an exceptional leader, a point underscored by Mr Isi Leibler, a distinguished Melbourne communal figure who led the Executive Council of Australian Jewry for close to 20 years. Mr Leibler stated “History will record that Rabbi Yitzchok Groner was beyond a doubt, the greatest Australian Jewish leader of the past century.”
 
Rabbi YD Groner was the Rebbe's personally appointed Shliach to Australia in 1956, and before that, the Previous Rebbe's Shliach to Melbourne in 1948. Rabbi Groner in his wisdom, issued a Psak to have the Yechi sign hang on the wall of the main Lubavitch Shul in Melbourne, and that is how the Rebbe wants Lubavitch to operate, and also how Yiddishkeit operates in general. By Psak Din and not by Baalebatishe referendums. Daas Baal Habayis Hefach Daas Torah.

Rabbi YD Groner, before his passing, appointed his son - in law Tzvi Telsner, to have the same decision making power, and according to Shulchan Oruch, Rabbi YD Groner had every right to appoint a family member who was fitting to take his place. Those wishing to change this, are just trying to take advantage of Rabbi Groner's physical absence, and Rabbi Telsner's early days with the Melbourne community. Rabbi YD Groner built together with elder Chassdim who were sent to Melbourne, one of the largest and visibly successful and peaceful Anash communities in the world. Rabbi Telsner is a person who on the one hand, clearly supports the saying of Yechi, but at the same time, has shown his responsible judgment, when he recently issued a Psak against a few individuals, who have taken the Rebbe's words beyond what has been paskened by Rabbonim.

SLOGANS: Yossel Gutnick says that Yechi is a slogan, and a slogan is something that degrades the Rebbe. But Yossel Gutnick does not mind slogans at all. Yossel Gutnick publicly supported and sponsored the "The Bibi is Good for the Jews" slogan in Eretz Yisroel. It was this SLOGAN that dragged the Rebbe's name into a political campaign and produced a result on the ground that was at odds with everything the Rebbe stood for with regard to Pikuach Nefesh! Tens of Yidden were murdered as a result of this slogan. Netanyahu gave up Hebron, did NOT stop Sharon to drive out thousands of Yidden from Gush Katif, and is now as PM stopping construction in Yehuda and Shomron, AND still announces that he wants to negotiate with the Arabs etc etc. Yet Gutnick kept supporting Netanyahu with the necessary slogans. Did ever apologize ? No. Instead he now lectures on slogans.

Furthermore the Rebbe coined many slogans including Moshiach Now (Tzav 5745), Army of Hashem (Tzivois Hashem) etc.

The Rebbe encouraged women at dollars who brought him tambourines adorned with Yechi written on them, accepted men with favorable responses when they handed the Rebbe yellow flags with Yechi etc and also reacted favorably to men who gave the Rebbe “ Boruch Habo Melech Hamohshiach” billboards and signs, with the Rebbe's picture prominently displayed.

The Rebbe also FAVORABLY accepted outside the Women’s Mikveh in 1992, the Psak Din signed by Rabbis Ashkenazi, Axelrod, Osdoba, Marlow and Heller, presented by Reb Dovid Nachshon, which specifically decided that the Rebbe was Melech Hamoshiach. This Psak Din was eventually signed by hundreds of Rabbonim. Such a Psak Din cannot be reversed and the Rebbe was well aware of this when he carefully read the Psak Din and accepted it, and responded "Yeyasher Kai'ach" to Dovid Nachshon. The Rebbe gave Yona Avtzon of the Lubavitch English Publishing house, Sichos in English, HASKOMO (approval), to refer to the Rebbe as Melech Hamoshiach in the forward to the book Besuras Hageulo! The Rebbe also despite all the deceptive propaganda, gave Rabbi SD Wolpo approval in 1993 to publish the Sefer “Yechi Hamelech Hamoshiach, after informing the Rebbe that the book would explain in detail, why the Lubavitcher Rebbe is Moshiach according to Rabbinic and Biblical Law!
Is anyone willing to say Chas V’Sholom, that the Rebbe was mistaken in his prophecy?

So Torah is not against the use of slogans. It is simply a matter of who coins the slogan. Was the slogan coined or sanctioned by the Rebbe, or was it decided by a businessman?

Yossel Gutnick is in my opinion, sadly attempting to use his prominence in the business world, to distort the Rebbe’s clearly enunciated position. The Rebbe encouraged Yechi for over 17 months as he sat on the balcony inside 770 during the times of public prayer. Dozens of videos captured the Rebbe doing this. The Rebbe even waves his left hand vigorously, urging the Chassidim to sing Yechi with more gusto. The Rebbe knew that the world was watching and he gave the ultimate green light. Rabbi YD Groner in approving the Yechi sign in Melbourne , simply decided to implement that which the Rebbe himself approved and urged.

All of this is a matter of pure belief in the words of the righteous. Being proud and confident in our Rebbe.

Confident with EVERYTHING the Rebbe predicts and declares, no matter how unlikely the Rebbe's prediction may look to simple human beings of flesh and blood. No matter how radical the prediction may appear. To be amongst the Chayolei Beis Dovid, we as the master, must “lead the dog, and not allow the dog to leads us”.


Yankel Koncepolski
Sydney
Australia