Chaim Gutnick
Encyclopedia
Shneur Chaim Gutnick (1921 - 25 October 2003) (Heb.: שניאור-חיים הכהן גוטניק), was a prominent Orthodox Jewish
Chabad
rabbi
in Australia
.
Gutnick was born in Zolotonosha
, Ukraine
; soon afterwards his family moved to Tel Aviv
, and then in 1927 to London
, where his father, Mordechai Ze'ev Gutnick, a graduate of Tomchei Temimim
, served as a Chabad rabbi. After his father's death, on 29 November 1931, Gutnick came under the influence of Yehezkel Abramsky
. He was educated at the Jews' Free School
in London, and then at the Telshe yeshiva
in Lithuania
. When the Second World War broke out, he escaped with a small group of refugees, including the wife and daughter of Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler
, which eventually found its way to Australia in 1941. On the instruction of Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn
he remained in Australia, and joined the Australian Army
. He applied for a position as a chaplain, but was turned down.
After the war Gutnick's stepfather Osher Abramson accepted a rabbinic position in Sydney
, Australia
, and moved there together with Gutnick's mother and his brother, Sholom Gutnick. Gutnick married Rose Chester, and had six children together. Their son Joseph
is a well-known Jewish philanthropist
; their son Mordechai
is a prominent Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Australia.
In 1958 Gutnick was offered the rabbinate of the newly constructed Elwood Talmud Torah Hebrew Congregation
, in Elwood, Victoria
; he served in that position until his death in 2003.
In 1967, Gutnick founded the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, and served as its president until his death. He was also honorary Rosh Yeshiva
at the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand
, where he delivered a monthly lecture and examined the students.
Gutnick received the honour of unusually long private audiences with The Lubavitcher Rebbe
, who gave him much advice in all areas of his work.
Gutnick also served as a chaplain in the Australian Defense Force.
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Chabad
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Gutnick was born in Zolotonosha
Zolotonosha
Zolotonosha is a city located in the Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine. Located at around , the city serves as the administrative center of the Zolotoniskyi Raion , however the city itself is designated with the status of a separate district within the oblast.Zolotonosha is located on the...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
; soon afterwards his family moved to Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, and then in 1927 to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where his father, Mordechai Ze'ev Gutnick, a graduate of Tomchei Temimim
Tomchei Temimim
Tomchei Temimim is the central Yeshiva of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
, served as a Chabad rabbi. After his father's death, on 29 November 1931, Gutnick came under the influence of Yehezkel Abramsky
Yehezkel Abramsky
Yehezkel Abramsky , also affectionately referred to as 'Reb Chatzkel Abramsky', was a prominent and influential Orthodox rabbi and scholar, born and raised in Russia who later headed the London Beth Din for 17 years....
. He was educated at the Jews' Free School
Jews' Free School
JFS is a Jewish secondary school in Kenton, north London. It presently accepts both male and female students. At one time it had more than 4,000 students attending making this school the largest Jewish school in Europe. The school has been awarded specialist Humanities College status...
in London, and then at the Telshe yeshiva
Telshe yeshiva
Telshe yeshiva was a famous Eastern European yeshiva founded in the Lithuanian town of Telšiai. After World War II the yeshiva relocated to Wickliffe, Ohio, in the United States and is currently known as the Rabbinical College of Telshe, It is one of the most prominent Haredi institutions of Torah...
in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. When the Second World War broke out, he escaped with a small group of refugees, including the wife and daughter of Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler
Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler
Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler was an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and Jewish philosopher of the 20th century. He is known as mashgiach ruchani of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Israel and through collections of his writings published posthumously by his pupils.-Lithuania:Eliyahu Dessler Eliyahu Eliezer...
, which eventually found its way to Australia in 1941. On the instruction of Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn
Joseph Isaac Schneersohn
Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn was an Orthodox rabbi and the sixth Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement. He is also known as the Friediker Rebbe , the Rebbe RaYYaTz, or the Rebbe Rayatz...
he remained in Australia, and joined the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. He applied for a position as a chaplain, but was turned down.
After the war Gutnick's stepfather Osher Abramson accepted a rabbinic position in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and moved there together with Gutnick's mother and his brother, Sholom Gutnick. Gutnick married Rose Chester, and had six children together. Their son Joseph
Joseph Gutnick
Joseph Isaac Gutnick is an Australian businessman and mining industry entrepreneur. He is also an ordained rabbi and is well known for his philanthropy in the Jewish world.-Business holdings:Among Gutnick's business holdings:...
is a well-known Jewish philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
; their son Mordechai
Mordechai Gutnick
Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick is a prominent Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Australia. He is the eldest son of the late Rabbi Chaim Gutnick and brother of Australian mining magnate Joseph Gutnick....
is a prominent Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Australia.
In 1958 Gutnick was offered the rabbinate of the newly constructed Elwood Talmud Torah Hebrew Congregation
Elwood Talmud Torah Hebrew Congregation
The Elwood Talmud Torah Hebrew Congregation , or Elwood Shule, is a historically significant Orthodox synagogue located in the Melbourne suburb of Elwood, Victoria, Australia...
, in Elwood, Victoria
Elwood, Victoria
Elwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
; he served in that position until his death in 2003.
In 1967, Gutnick founded the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, and served as its president until his death. He was also honorary Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
at the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand
Yeshivah Gedolah Zal
Yeshivah Gedolah "Zal" , Yeshivah Gedolah, The Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand, or colloquially, Y.G., is a government accredited yeshiva, an academy for young Orthodox Jews to devote themselves to full-time rabbinical studies. It is located in St Kilda East, Victoria, Melbourne,...
, where he delivered a monthly lecture and examined the students.
Gutnick received the honour of unusually long private audiences with The Lubavitcher Rebbe
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
, who gave him much advice in all areas of his work.
Gutnick also served as a chaplain in the Australian Defense Force.