Born in Fez, Morocco, he served on the bet din[1] and studied at the yeshivot of his father, Vidal ha-Zarefati and Joseph Almosnino.
[3] Leb Aharon (Aaron's Heart) is a commentary on Joshua and the Judges, and contains both simple explanations of the words (peshat), as well as a more in depth analysis of the text at large (derush).
This work focuses on the development and application of the thirteen hermeneutical principles, and was largely responsible for the Sifra becoming a subject of study.
[2] Korban Aharon (Aaron's Offering) is a lengthy commentary on Sifra, printed in Venice from 1609 to 1611 (reprinted Jerusalem 1970).
Aharon Ibn Hayyim's commentary also discusses the relevant parallel texts from rabbinical literature.