Rabbi Aaron Berechiah ben Moses ben Nehemiah
An Italian mekubal of Modena, talmid of Rav Menachem Azariah of Fano, remembered above all for Maavar Yabok, his classic on caring for the sick and the departed.
Biography
Torah and leadership
Rabbi Aaron Berechiah ben Moses ben Nehemiah of Modena zt"l was a mekubal (master of Kabbalah) in Italy. He learned under two teachers: Rav Hillel of Modena, whom people called Chassid VeKadosh, “the pious and holy one,” and Rav Menachem Azariah of Fano.
The Chevra Kaddisha (burial society) of Mantua asked him to set out its rites and customs, and he did so. It is told that, like Rav Yosef Karo, he was constantly in communion with a heavenly spirit known as the Maggid.
Teachings and seforim
His best-known sefer, Maavar Yabok, holds discourses on separation, purity and holiness, together with tefillos for the sick and for the departed and the rules for how they are to be cared for. Knowing that some might fault him for not treating these subjects through philosophy, he answered with the words of Rav Yitzchok Arama in Akeidas Yitzchok (chapter 25): “Reason must surrender some of its rights to the divine revelations which are superior to it.”
Rav Aaron Berechiah wrote a great deal. Ashmores HaBoker (The Watches of the Morning) is a collection of early-morning tefillos arranged for the Me'irei HaShachar (Awakeners of the Morning) society, and it was also printed under that name. He wrote a commentary on Tikkunei HaZohar, and Me'il Tzedakah (The Cloak of Righteousness), on tefillah and Torah study, which was printed in Mantua in 1767 together with Bigdei Kodesh (Garments of Holiness) on the same theme. His Magen Aharon (Shield of Aaron) is a summary of the writings of the Arizal.
His largest work, Chibbur BeKabbalah, has four parts. Shemen Mishchas Kodesh (The Oil of Holy Anointing) lays out the foundations of Kabbalah according to Rav Moshe Cordovero and the Arizal; Shemen Zayis Zach (Pure Olive Oil) gathers his public drashos on the same subject; Shesil Poreach (The Blossoming Plant) explains the hidden meaning of the tefillos and religious practices; and Imrei Shefer (Words of Beauty) contains further assorted writings. Azulai saw the complete work in manuscript in Modena, and parts of it are kept in several libraries.
Later years and passing
Rav Aaron Berechiah passed away in Italy in Tammuz 5399 (1639).
Seforim
- Maavar Yabok: Discourses on separation, purity and holiness, with tefillos for the sick and the departed and the laws of their care.
- Ashmores HaBoker: Early-morning tefillos arranged for the Me'irei HaShachar society; also printed under that name.
- Commentary on Tikkunei HaZohar: A commentary on Tikkunei HaZohar.
- Me'il Tzedakah: On tefillah and Torah study; printed in Mantua in 1767 together with Bigdei Kodesh.
- Bigdei Kodesh: On tefillah and Torah study; printed with Me'il Tzedakah (Mantua, 1767).
- Chibbur BeKabbalah: A four-part work of Kabbalah: Shemen Mishchas Kodesh, Shemen Zayis Zach, Shesil Poreach and Imrei Shefer; seen complete in manuscript in Modena, with parts held in libraries.
- Magen Aharon: A summary of the writings of the Arizal.
Family & talmidim
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@{name=Rav Hillel of Modena}: Rav Menachem Azariah of Fano