Yad Aharon

All notes by Chaim Meiselman: This is a volume of Hebrew poetry, Midrashic interpretation, and lessons by Aharon Tsevi Ashkenazi of Saloniki (today Thessaloniki, Greece). The title, literally translated to "The hand of Aharon", from Exodus 29:9; however, the author notes in the lengthy title statement that Ya"d (Gematria 14) is for the 14 piyutim, 14 discourses, and 14 homilies that make up the work. He also notes that he wrote them without eyesight (emphasis on "hands of Aharon"). The text is followed by a chart of errata (leaf 59a) and a final song in honor of Thessaloniki follows (called "Zemer le-kavod Śaloniḳ"; leaf 59b-60b) and is dedicated in honor of R. Shaʼul Molḥo, friend and patron ("baʻal ha-akhsanya sheli") of the author. There is a poem in honor of the holy land called "Ziʼara de-E.Y. (de-Erets Yiśraʼel)" and a chorus ("Pizmon") on leaves 2-4, with the acrostic headings spelling the name of the author (Aharon Tsevi); the author indicates this after the chorus.