Sepher HaTzava

The manuscript includes correspondence with many outstanding contemporary Lithuanian rabbinic leaders concerning various Talmudic and Halachic issues. The author of this manuscript R. Eliezer Bavli (1812-90) was an accomplished scholar, polemicist and lay-leader residing in Bialystok, who studied in his youth in Volozhin (he refers to the Netzi"v as "Yedidi MeNe'urai.") In addition to great Talmudic erudition, Eliezer Bavli directed a professional architectural and engineering practice. See E. Katzman, Chalutzei Tzava: Sepher HaTzava UMechabro in: Yeshurun, Vol. II (1997) pp. 606-19. Tipped into this Talmudic manuscript are the following important Autograph Letters of Rabbinic responsa all written to Eliezer Bavli: * Three highly scarce Autograph Letters Signed, by R. Yitzchak Eizik Chaver (Wildman) of Volkovisk and later Tiktin, the author of Binyan Olam and disciple R. Mendel of Shklov. 1840 (8 pages). 1840 (8 pages). 1841 (2 pages). * Autograph Letter Signed, by R. Naphtali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin (Netzi"v) of Volozhin, author of Meishiv Davar. No date. 2 pages. * Autograph Letter Signed, by R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor of Kovno, author of Be'er Yitzchak. (Novardok), 1860. 1 page. * Autograph Letter Signed, by R. Baruch Mordechai Livshits of Volkovisk, author of Brith Yaakov. 1860. 5 pages. Eliezer Bavli corresponded with other leading halachic authorities, including: R. Yom Tov Lipman Heilprin of Bialystok, R. Yechiel Heller of Volkovisk and R. Abraham David of Porezova. All cited in this manuscript