Sefer Kav Naki on Gittin 2 sections. Authored by the Gaon Rabbi Abraham Lavut Av Beit Din of Nikolaev and the vicinity, one of the greatest rabbis of Chabad, a disciple of the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe’s grandfather – his granddaughter is the Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe’s mother. See below.
First Edition – Warsaw, 1868. Section I: Likutei Halachot Psukot from the composition Seder Hagett by Rabbi Michl of Krakow. In addition, he translated all the Yiddish words to make it easier for the Jews of Spain and Italy to study Seder Gittin. Two title pages. Originally, [1], 26, [1], 27-59.
Section II: "Names of men and women, cities and rivers … and their variations". Separate title page. 39 leaves.
Approbations by the Rabash of Lubavitch, the son of the Tzemach Tzedek, Rabbi Yosef Tomarkin Av Beit Din of Krimentzik, Rabbi Doberush Meislish Av Beit Din of Krakow, rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson of Lviv and more.
Bound at its end is Sefer Hashlamat Sdarim, an additional work by the author which is :Mahadura Batra od Sidrei Gittin and Shemot Gittin", titled Kav Naki Hashalem – first edition – Vilna, 1885. 12 leaves.
Old stable binding. Worn leather spine. The first title pages are professionally restored in their edges. Stains. Good overall condition.
The author, Rabbi Abraham David ben Judah Leib Lavutt was the Rebbe of Chabad’s great-grandfather. Born in 1815 to Rabbi Yehuda Leib, when he was approx. 35 years old he was appointed Moreh Tzedek in Nikolaev, and approx. 10 years later he was appointed Rav of the city and Rav of around 40 villages in the area. He was Rosh of the Kollelim established by the Tzemach Tzedek and was close to the Tzemach Tzedek and Maharash, and at the end of his life he was in especially close correspondence with the latter regarding his works. The Maharash even wrote a glowing approbation on his work.
The Rebbe himself tells, in the introduction to his Sefer Kav Naki, what he heard from his mother, Rebbitizn Chana, that “Rabbi Avraham David excelled with his sharp wisdom, amazing skills, and wide-ranging knowledge of the sea that is the Talmud.”
