The Maggid of Ostrow had passed away and Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, the Rav of Polonya, also known as the "Toldos," arrived to apply for the position. Although Reb Yaivi, the young son of the late rav accompanied him as he made his petition to the city elders, his application was, nonetheless, refused.

In spite of the negative outcome of the interview, Reb Yaivi invited the scholar home where a feast had been laid out in the guest's honor. When the meal had ended and the young man was accompanying the Toldos on his way, the older scholar remarked with a bitter irony, "And so, does Ostrow still exist!?"

Reb Yaivi looked at this distinguished guest and replied, "Are you saying that because you were not chosen to be the new rav of the city? Perhaps you heard a heavenly decree saying, 'Yosef is the ruler over the land' and you thought it referred to you, but you see, my name is also Yosef!"

"Is that so?" asked the Toldos. "In that case, it is my mistake, and obviously it is appropriate that you assume your father's position. I am going to request that the city fathers invest you as rav of the city immediately."

His word was swiftly enacted, and Reb Yaivi became the new rav of the city of Ostrow with the blessings of the Rav of Polonya. As soon as the Toldos returned to his home, he sent Reb Yaivi a beautiful crystal goblet as a gift.

Reb Yaivi treasured the goblet and used it to make kiddush for many years. One year, just before Simchat Torah, a bird flew in through the window and alighted on Reb Yaivi's goblet and it cracked. Reb Yaivi evinced no particular emotion over the loss, but later that night, he sent for his attendant and said, "Find me someone going to Berdichev after the holiday ends."

At the end of the Yom Tov, a young Chasid appeared in the rav's room ready to follow his instructions. "On your way to Berdichev, I want you to stop in Polnoya and tell the rav very clearly and in these exact words that the crystal goblet broke. Promise me you will do as I ask you."

The Chasid promised and then he boarded his coach and asked the driver to tell him when they reached Polonya. The Chasid promptly fell asleep. When he awakened they had passed Polonya.

"Didn't I ask you to wake me up?" cried the Chasid.

"Well, no matter now, it's too late. Just relax, mister, the next stop is Berdichev."

"What! That's impossible! I had urgent business in Polonya. You must turn around at once!"

But the driver was adamant and when the Chasid saw that no amount of pleading would budge him, he jumped out of the moving carriage. Catching his breath, he turned and began the trek back to Polonya. There he was met by a large crowd of men and women weeping and reciting Psalms.

The rav of the town was near death, but the Chasid only knew that he had a mission -- to relay his rav's message. But how could he gain entry to the room? Suddenly he got an idea. "I have a medicine for the Rav!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

At once, the crowd parted and he entered the sick room. "Rav Yaivi sent you regards and asked me tell you that the crystal goblet has broken."

The rav lifted his feverish eyes. "The cup is broken? Thank G-d."

Immediately the fever subsided and within a few days, the Toldos had completely recovered.

Another Simchat Torah came and this time the Toldos was lying on his deathbed. Thoughts flew through his mind. He recalled the enigmatic words of his master, the Baal Shem Tov so many years before. "You will leave this world on Simchat Torah, but first you will lose your position as rav."

"How could that happen," he wondered at the time. One year he had been very ill, but when he had heard that the crystal goblet had broken, he knew that was a sign of reprieve.

Then the prophetic words were realized, and in such a strange way.

It was Simchat Torah and he was looking out of his window when a gang of drunkards happened to pass by. What a way to "celebrate" the holy day, thought the Toldos to himself, and he cried out to them: "What do you have to celebrate anyway? Have you spent the whole year immersed in Torah study?"

But one responded, "But you have surely studied Torah all year. And if my brother makes a wedding, am I not entitled to dance as well?"

The rav had to answer, "You are correct."

To which the man replied, "Aha! So I am right! Well, if that's the case, you don't deserve to be rav and I hereby depose you!"

The Toldos was shocked. What a chutzpa to speak to him that way! But soon he became thoughtful, for hadn't this lout just pronounced his death? And as the Baal Shem Tov had spoken, the Toldos left this world together with the Yom Tov and was mourned by his entire congregation.