Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on February 18, 2017

Michael Holtzman Herald News Staff Reporter @MDHoltzman

FALL RIVER For 35 years he manufactured womens clothing in Fall River and he became known as Mr. Apparel while his imprint stretched far and wide, including to the Azores, where the Jewish businessman yearned to restore a forgotten synagogue.

Now one year after Aaron N. Mittleman died at age 90 in New Jersey, two regal velvet covers will bear his name and be placed on two holy-scripture Torahs in that reborn synagogue sanctuary founded nearly two centuries ago after the Inquisition.

These two beautiful and meaningful Torah covers were donated by Cheryl Mittleman Stern, Aarons daughter, and Dr. Cathy Stern, Aarons niece, said Paula Raposa, a retired city business leader who had been part of the pioneering Azores Synagogue Restoration Committee that Aaron Mittleman had chaired decades ago.

What beautiful Torah covers! Thats wonderful the Mittlemans have donated them and its such an honor to receive them, Gideon Gradman, president of the Azorean Jewish Heritage Foundation, wrote fellow-member Raposa.

Raposa had been with Mittleman and a few other Fall River business people on a trip to Ponta Delgada when they were first led to 16 Rua de Brum, a non-descript site in a rabbis home of the Sahar Hassamain Synagogue.

The synagogue name translates to Gates of Heaven. It was in ruins.

That restoration committee evolved into the AJHF that has worked for years and raised funds from Greater Fall River along with officials in Ponta Delgada.

On April 23, 2015 they celebrated the synagogue rededication to international acclaim. Ambassadors from Portugal, America and Israel were among the dignitaries that attended to view what also houses a museum and library bearing witness to its origins.

My father when he went somewhere was always interested in finding out about Jewish history, Cheryl Mittleman Stern said recently.

Too old and infirm to take that synagogue dedication trip from Boston almost two years ago with a large delegation of about 80 people including many legislators, Mittleman had read the accounts in The Herald News. He was busting with pride, his daughter said.

His highly regarded company in Fall River, which employed approximately 85 people until he retired in 1989, was called Cheryl Manufacturing after his daughter and located on County Street.

During that period he headed the New England Apparel Manufacturers Association, a trade organization, for 14 years. Hed lead efforts to improve the textile industry locally and at the state and national levels, directing the chambers of commerce in Fall River and New Bedford.

The two Torah covers manufactured by Jewish Bazaar are a white one with a tree of life and gold trim honoring him as a founder of the synagogue restoration committee; and a maroon one with gold trim, in memory of him, his late brother Sandy and late sister Connie.

State Rep. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, a AJHF member, whos been active with the rededication and continued efforts, plans to deliver the two Torah covers to the synagogue during a personal trip to Portugal in April, his office said.

In October, Temple Beth El in Fall River had donated a royal blue Torah cover with the name of both synagogues embroidered on it to Ponta Delgada Mayor Jos Bolieiro during his visit here in October. It signified the an agreement to preserve Jewish history in both lands.

Sahar Hassamain has four original Torahs. It began as a synagogue in 1836 to allow Jews the freedom to worship after the Inquisition.

Email Michael Holtzman at mholtzman@heraldnews.com or call him at 508-676-2573.

Excerpt from:
Torah covers from Fall River businessman donated to Ponta ... - Fall River Herald News

Category: Synagogue
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