Aharon ben Ab-Chisda ben Yaacob

Aharon ben Ab-Chisda ben Yaacob (Samaritan Hebrew: Åʿrron ban Ab-Isdåʿ ban Yā̊ːqob, ’Ahárōn ben ’Āv-Ḥasdā (ben Ya‘áqōv)), also transliterated as Aaron b. Abhisda b. Jacob, (1 February 1927 – 19 April 2013) was a Samaritan nurse and priest, who in old age, served as the Samaritan High Priest (Cohen Godal).

He was considered by Samaritans to be a direct descendant of Aaron and the 132nd High Priest to hold the office of High Priest since the time of Moses.

Life Aharon was born in Nablus in 1927 and was educated by his father Ab-Chisda, a son of the High Priest Yaacob I ben Aaharon ben Shalma, learning from him the traditional poems, chants and prayers of the Samaritans.

Aharon was a younger brother of the High Priest Yoseph ben Ab-Hisda ben Yaacov ben Aaharon. Before becoming high priest himself, he was a deputy high priest and well known in the small Samaritan community. He was married and had four sons and two daughters.

One of the High Priest's main duties is to preside over the Passah (Passover) ritual.

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