page_title: Aaron ben Elijah
section_title: Gan Eden
hierarchical_section_title: Aaron ben Elijah / Aaron's philosophy / Gan Eden
caption_attribution_description: English: Created by Sharon Mooney, and based from Gan Eden, by Aaron ben Elijah, "the Younger" (1317-1369). Manuscript on paper, dating around the 14th or 15th century. Oriental semi-cursive script. Original, from Judaica in Leiden. Image may be redistributed on condition original credits remain intact.
context_page_description: Aaron ben Elijah, the Latter, of Nicomedia is often considered to be the most prominent Karaite theologian. He is referred to as "the Younger" to distinguish him from Aaron the Elder. Even though Aaron lived for much of his life in Constantinople, he is sometimes distinguished from another Aaron Ben Elijah by the title "of Nicomedia," signifying another place he lived.
context_section_description: Aaron's work on the Commandments, entitled Gan Eden (The Garden of Eden), consists of twenty-five sections and 194 chapters, as well as nine smaller juridical articles, which became of paramount importance to the Karaites. It was written in 1354. He follows a rational approach to the commandments, similar to the one espoused by Maimonides. He opens with the principle that instilling the belief in God's unity, and especially in His government of the world, is the ultimate purpose of every commandment, so that it is the duty of humanity to seek the underlying objective of each commandment. For example, the goal of the Sabbath is inculcating a belief in the Divine creation and guidance of the world; other festivals are intended to counteract the influences of paganism and fatalism.
  Two parts of Gan Eden have appeared as separate books:
  One, consisting of five sections and twenty-two chapters on shechita (the laws of slaughtering animals for food)
  Tzafnat Paneach ("Discloser of Secrets") consists of eight chapters on incestuous marriages.
  In its entirety, Gan Eden is probably the best and most comprehensive exposition of the Karaite system of the Law, presenting the opinions of all Aaron's predecessors with impartial and frank criticism. It is mainly because of this work that Aaron continues to wield such a great influence upon the Karaites.
caption: Gan Eden, by Aaron ben Elijah. Manuscript on paper, dating around the 14th or 15th century. Oriental semi-cursive script.
exif: {}