Rabbi Mendel Aronow, who escaped Soviet Russia with Rebbetzin Chana, and went on to become a sofer and mashpia of the Chabad community in Toronto, passed away on Tuesday. Update: Levaya will pass 770 at 3:30 PM on Wednesday.
By Anash.org reporter
Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaKohen Aronow, a sofer and mashpia of the Chabad community in Toronto, passed away on Tuesday, 5 Tamuz.
He was 93 years old.
Rabbi Aranow was born on 6 Shvat 1928 to R’ Yehoshua Zelik and Chava Aronow in Orsha, USSR, near the town of Lubavitch . As a child he studied in underground Talmud Torahs throughout Russia and after his Father’s passing in 1942, he helped care for his mother and sister (Mrs. Rivkah Ceitlin).
During the Second World War, he escaped to Samarkand together with his family. He learned safrus and shechita in Samarkand and Tashkent, and since then he has worked as a Sofer Sta”m. He was a Sofer with a direct Mesorah from the Alter Rebbe’s Sofer Reb Reuven. He left Russia together with Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson listed as her son and had the zechus of assisting her with great Mesiras Nefesh.
In 1951 Rabbi Aronow and his wife Rebbetzin Golda Aronow (Minkowitz) moved to Toronto, Canada and were among the founding members of the Chabad Lubavitch community of Toronto. He served as a shochet and a sofer and had a local Judaica store. He also served as the Mapshpia of Anash, made countless baalei teshuva and was revered by all other Chassidishe dynasties as well. For decades, he would farbreng with bochurim and anash, and his home was the address of choice for many visiting shadarim and meshulochim.
One non-Lubavitch rov said about him “Reb Mendel is in Toronto over 60 years but he still never left Russia.” Reb Mendel was Zoche to see 5 generations Mekushor to the Rebbe.
He was predeceased by his wife, Mrs. Golda Aronow OBM, just over a month ago.
He is survived by his children; Mrs. Brina Langsam, Crown Heights; Mrs. Brocha Wilhelm, Toronto CA; Rabbi Yosef Aronow, Kfar Chabad, Eretz Yisroel; Mrs. Esther Rochel Moscowitz, Chicago, IL; Rabbi Zelik Aronow, Florida; Mrs. Shternie Notik, Chicago, IL; as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.
The levaya will pass by 770 on Wednesday, at 3:30 PM.
HaMokom y’nachem eschem b’soich sh’or aveilei Tzion v’yerusholoim–zolt nisht wissen mehr fun kein tzar– nor simchos.
Being a soifer sta”m myself, I am wondering if there is available a copy of Reb Mendel Aronow a”h’s ksav (parshiois, mezuzah, sefer Toireh–anything). I would very much appreciate it. Yehi zichro baruch.
B’vrocho, Shmuel Tovia Gilbert
What a sad day !
Anyone growing up in Toronto in the past 50 years will only have the best memories of Reb Mendel! His modest home on Fairholme was the place to go for Sefarim ,Tefillin, Mezuzos,Arbah minim and Matzohs.
He was not just a soldier ,but a general.
He had a “shprach” with all types of Jews and all ages .
His home turned into a store before Succos and Pesach.
Chaval al deavdin Vlo Mishtachin
A non Lubavitcher