Rav Sholom Rokeach in Lublin

The Chozeh wished to honor his important guest, Rav Sholom Rokeach, and asked that a glass of wine be poured for him. Rav Sholom had already begun his ascent, and among the practices he had taken on himself was to refrain from drinking intoxicating beverages. He lifted the cup as the Chozeh had asked but was in a quandary, since he would not drink. The matter resolved itself when the glass shattered in his hands.

The Chozeh asked that a new cup of wine be poured, and again the same thing happened. The Chozeh then thundered in mock anger, "What are you doing? Do you mean to break all my glasses?" When Rav Sholom explained his geder and said that he did not drink wine, the Chozeh let the matter rest.

The next day the Chozeh honored Rav Sholom with the sixth aliyah, an honor kept for distinguished guests and leading rabbanim. The congregation wondered aloud why such an honor was given to so young a guest. The Chozeh answered their murmuring, "Why are you so surprised? This yungerman will one day be a leader of thousands." His prediction came true.

The Chozeh once asked Rav Sholom to read the Megillah on Purim for all who had gathered. Afterward he remarked, "I have heard the story of Purim many times, but never the way this yungerman told it. I have never heard it told this way before."

On another occasion, when Rav Sholom was squeezed beneath the Chozeh's tisch, the Chozeh whispered to him, "One day they will all be squeezing under your tisch." And once the Chozeh said, "People travel to Rymanov, to Rav Menachem Mendel, seeking parnassah. They go to Kozhnitz, to the Maggid Rav Yisroel Haupstein, seeking healing. To me they come for Chassidus. To you they will come, and from you they will receive all of these."