 Groner's connection to Schneerson had begun at Groner's bar mitzvah celebration, where, as a guest, Schneerson had spoken for 1 hour and 20 minutes.In 1949, Schneerson asked Groner to join the team of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, working in the Kehot Publication Society, thus adding Groner to his secretariat.In 1951, Schneerson succeeded his father-in-law as the seventh Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.