The Rabbi of Buczacz shared the following story about the Elder Chortkover:
During a tish (spiritual meal), a Jew approached the Rebbe while they were raising the toast, l’hayim (to life!), he broke a bottle of wine, causing it to spill onto the Chortkover. The Jew almost fell into a faint on the spot. How was it possible to spill wine on the Rebbe? The Chortkover immediately understood how the person felt and reassured him, saying that breaking a bottle of wine is actually a cause for happiness and a sign of blessing. The Jew was literally delighted with this reaction. Later on, the Rebbe sent him, through the gabai (sexton), a kapote (caftan) as a gift to show that his spirits were not weakened as a result.
Y.F.
Yaakov Teitelbaum
