Aharon HaLevi

Aaron ha-Levi of Barcelona (1235 – c. 1290) (Hebrew: אהרן הלוי), known as the "Ra'AH" (the acronym for his Hebrew name), was a medieval rabbi, Talmudical scholar and "Halakhist".

The Ra'ah was born in Gerona, Spain in 1235 to his father "Rabbeinu" Joseph ha-Levi, son of Rabbi Benbineshti ha-Levi, son of Rabbi Joseph ha-Levi, who was the son of "Rabbeinu" Zerachiah ha-Levi the "Baal Hamaor". The Ra'ah's mother Klara, was a granddaughter of "Rabbeinu" Aaron of Lunel who was the son of "Rabbeinu" Meshullam of Lunel "(Rabbeinu Meshullam hagodol)."

The Ra'ah studied under his father "Rabbeinu" Joseph HaLevi and brother "Rabeinu" Pinchos HaLevi, as well as Nachmanides ("Ramban") and was a colleague of the Rashba. He published critical notes on the Rashba's "Torat HaBayit", which he entitled "Bedek HaBayith". He also wrote a commentary on the Talmud, select parts of which have been published. There are those who believe that he is the author of the anonymous "Sefer ha-Chinuch", although this claim has been rejected by many scholars due to discrepancies between opinions expressed in "Torat HaBayit" and the "Chinnuch". This has led to the conclusion that the true author of the Sefer HaChinuch was a different Reb Aharon Halevi, who was a student of the Rashba, rather than his colleague. The Ritva was one of his students.

References

* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=58&letter=A Jewish Encyclopedia AARON BEN JOSEPH HA-LEVI]
* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=63&letter=A Jewish Encyclopedia AARON HA-LEVI OF BARCELONA ]