Rav Weiss explained that the pens were his “siyum pens”
Rav Asher Weiss, av beis din of Darkei Hora’ah, one of our generations venerated poskim, and author of the multivolume classic, Minchas Asher, was visited by his talmid, Rabbi Shay Shachter, the current rabbi and rosh beis medrash of Young Israel of Woodmere, and Rabbi Sruly Bornstein, the popular Lakewood Daf Yomi maggid shiur.
At one point, Rav Weiss showed his distinguished guests two canisters, each filled with dozens of dry pens. Rav Weiss explained that the pens were his “siyum pens.” He had used them to write his voluminous notes of chiddushei Torah. Rav Weiss consistently used the same pen to write and in time, after penning approximately one and a half notebooks — which would eventually be published as Minchas Asher — the pen ran dry. When that happened, he would reverently place it back in its canister and take out the next one. After several dozen volumes of chiddushei Torah, the “siyum pens” — dry pens whose entire ink cartridge had been devoted exclusively to Torah — accumulated into an impressive collection.
Rav Weiss showed the unique Torah collection to his guests, encouraging the young talmidei chachamim to write down their own Torah thoughts — and showcasing the copious output that comes from years of devotion.
Avi Junger of Vienna, Austria, has contended with more in his 27 years than many do in a lifetime. Avi has a rare nerve condition called familial dysautonomia (FD). His parents have been at his side every step of the way, supporting him through countless difficulties.
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