Aaron of Cardena

Aaron of Cardena was possibly a Spanish cabalist, about whose life little is known. Gershom Scholem assumes that Aaron of Cardena never existed. Aaron Kardina (in Gerschom Scholems work) is said to have served as a fictional editor. In fact, the work to which his authorship is attributed comes from R. Simon b. Pesaḥ of Astropol himself (see below).

He wrote a book containing "profound secrets" under the title of Ḳarnayim ("Rays")—see Habbakuk 3:4. The work was erroneously ascribed to Isaac b. Abraham b. David, surnamed "the Blind", which fact shows the esteem in which it was held and also the age in which it was written.

The author refers at the close of chapter 3 and at the beginning of chapters 5 and 7 to two of his other works, Kitro Yeshu'ah ("His Crown is Salvation" — compare Psalm 33:16), and Peraḥ Ẓiẓ ("The Blossom of the Priestly Diadem" — compare Numeri 17:23), the titles of which seem to refer to his name, Aaron, as priest.

The work Ḳarnayim was first published at Żółkiew, in 1709, together with a commentary, Dan Yadin, by R. Simon b. Pesaḥ of Astropol, and additions by his nephew, under the title of Liḳḳuṭe Shoshanim. In 1805 it was republished at Zhytomyr together with the commentary Parashat Eliezer, by Eliezer Fishel, grandson of R. Isaac of Kraków, and in 1835 it was again published at Leghorn together with the commentary Ḳeren Ẓebi and another work, Peraḥ Shoshan, by Samuel b. Joseph Shamama.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Aaron of Cardena". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.