It is also worth mentioning my father’s admirable minhag of always carrying the holy Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with him. Whenever he had a few free moments, whether while waiting at a bris milah or in similar situations, even for just a few brief minutes, he would immediately take out the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and study it. Despite his renowned greatness in Torah, he found this greatly beneficial.
Once, when he needed to travel to the hospital for urgent surgery, he requested that they bring him the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch so he could study and review the relevant halachos.
He often quoted the haskamos to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, which referenced the pasuk (Rus 2:4), וְהִנֵּה בֹעַז בָּא מִבֵּית לֶחֶם וַיֹּאמֶר לַקּוֹצְרִים ה ‘ עִמָּכֶם - And behold, Boaz came from Beis Lechem and said to the reapers )קּוֹצְרִים( Hashem be with you. הקוצרים can mean those who are brief (קצר), hinting that Hashem is with those who study the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. This aligns with the teaching in Sanhedrin (93b), - וַה ‘ עִמּוֹ«And Hashem was with him )Shmuel I 16:18(—this means the halachah follows him in all cases.»
Let us all strengthen ourselves in this great mitzvah of kerias Hatorah, refraining entirely from speaking during the reading—even between aliyos. Through this, we will merit the blessing of the holy Torah (Mishlei 3:16), אֹ רֶ ךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאולָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד - Length of days is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor, Amen.
