Paraḥ mateh Aharon (The Staff of Aaron Had Sprouted)

Johannes Alexander Böner was an engraver, etcher, draftsman, and art dealer in Nuremberg. He was a student of the Dutch draftsman and engraver Matthias van Somer. Böner was especially known for his prints of Nuremberg cityscapes and people in costume.

Aaron ha-Kohen Peraḥia was born in Salonika to a family of Italian origin. He was appointed chief rabbi of Salonika in 1689. Peraḥia was famed among the rabbis of Salonika as an important posek (legal decisor). His numerous responsa provide a great deal of information about Jewish life in the Ottoman Empire in general and Salonika in particular. These were published posthumously in two volumes. He also wrote commentaries on various tractates of the Talmud, in addition to homilies and eulogies.