Aaron Berechiah of Modena


Aaron Berechiah ben Moses ben Nehemiah of Modena was an Italian kabbalist. He is the author of Ma'avar Yabboḳ, the primary source text for Jewish burial practices.

Biography

Aaron Berachiah was a pupil of Rabbi Hillel of Modena and of the Italian Kabbalist Rabbi Menahem Azariah of Fano. He was a nephew of Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh de Modena and a student of Rabbi Israel Sarug who was a student of the Safed Kabbalist Isaac Luria. His brother-in-law was Rabbi Yosef Yedidya Krami, the author of Kanaf Renanim.

Persecution by the Church

He was arrested and imprisoned in 1636 for possessing forbidden books, namely, those singled out for censorship, expurgation or confiscation because of passages putatively critical of Christians. In his defense, he stated:

Books

His first work was the siddur Ashmoret haBoḳer, containing liturgy compiled for Mei're HaShachar, and therefore also published under this name.
His most well known work, Ma'avar Yabbok was written at the request of the Chevra kadisha of Mantua. In the first chapter, Siftei Tzedek, he compiled liturgy to accompany the work of caring for the dead, prayers to be offered for those who are sick, and rules and instructions for their care. He explains the importance of caring for the sick and the dying, and offers detailed confessional liturgy not only for the end of life, but for the merit and well-being of the soul. His detailed kabbalistic teachings are in the following chapters, which are focused on in-depth study rather than the skilled work of the Chevra Kadisha. To avert possible criticism for failing to discuss these themes philosophically, he makes use of the statement of Isaac Arama: "Reason must surrender some of its rights to the divine revelations which are superior to it." This text was translated into Yiddish by a Jewish woman, Ellus bas Mordecai of Slutsk. Some editions feature an introduction by Aaron ben Benjamin Porges.
His other works include:
  • Me'il Ẓedaḳah, on worship and study, published at Mantua in 1767, together with Bigde Ḳodesh, on the same subject.
  • Bigde Ḳodesh, on worship and study
  • Ḥibbur beḲabbalah, a work on the Cabala, consisting of four volumes:
  • * Shemen Mishḥat Ḳodesh, on the principles of the Cabala according to Moses Cordovero and Isaac Luria
  • * Shemen Zait Zak, public addresses on the same subject
  • * Shetil Poreaḥ, on the mysterious meaning of prayers and ceremonies
  • * Imre Shefer, and miscellaneous matter; this whole work was seen in manuscript by Azulai at Modena, and is found in parts in some libraries.
  • Magen Aharon, containing a compendium of Luria's works. This fertile writer is said to have been, like Joseph Caro, in constant communion with a spirit called the Maggid.
  • A commentary on ''Tiḳḳune ha-Zohar''