Aaron Alfandari

Aaron ben Moses Alfandari was a Talmudic writer born in Smyrna. He emigrated to the Land of Israel in his old age, where he met Chaim Yosef David Azulai, known as the CHIDA. In his book Shem HaGedolim, the CHIDA states he "got to meet the Rabbi in his old age in the holy city of Hebron, enjoying the radiance of his light..." Rabbi Alfandari was the first to sign the CHIDA's documents affirming him as an emissary to represent the Jewish community in foreign lands. The CHIDA lists him as one of the sages buried in the Old [Jewish cemetery, Hebron|ancient Jewish cemetery in Hebron]. Today, his name on the list is displayed on a plaque at the cemetery, although his exact grave site location was lost during the Jordanian period.

Works

He was the author of two works:Yad Aharon, a collection of notes on Ṭur Oraḥ Ḥayyim and on Ṭur Eben ha-'Ezer Mirkebet ha-Mishneh, a treatise on the first part of Maimonides' Yad ha-ḤazaḲah.
He died in Hebron in 1774. His grandson, Isaac Ardit, wrote a eulogy on him in his YeḲar ha-'Erek, Salonica, 1836.