AARON BEN ELIJAH

(?1328-69)

Karaite philosopher and exegete. Born in Nicomedia in Asia Minor, he lived in Constantinople. He usedMaimonides'Guide for the Perplexedas a basis for his defence of Karaism inThe Tree of Life(1346). He believed that the Mosaic law is immutable and should not be supplemented by rabbinic ordinances.