The Baal Shem Tov initiated the custom of holding Mashiach’s Seudah (the feast of Mashiach) on the last day of Pesach. At 770, this was always the occasion for a unique farbrengen at which, in keeping with the custom established by the Rebbe Rashab, the Rebbe and all those present each drank four cups of wine. At the conclusion of the gathering, the Rebbe would lead the chassidim in the grace after meals while holding a fifth cup, and afterwards would distribute wine from this cup “the cup of blessing” to all the chassidim, as well as to Jews from all walks of life, who filed by to receive this blessing.

Reb Sholom Yeshaya Deitsch was one of the dedicated chassidim in the Crown Heights community who never missed a farbrengen. Even when his sons were very young, he would take them along, educating them to treasure time spent with the Rebbe. Mashiach’ s Seudah was surely no exception and so, on the last day of Pesach, 5727 (1967), Reb Sholom Yeshaya took his place at the farbrengen, positioning his youngest son Avraham Moshe, then a boy of 11, at one of the tables behind him.

The farbrengen proceeded, and the Rebbe delivered several sichos. In between, the chassidim sang niggunim, and some used the opportunity to say LeChaim to the Rebbe. At one point between sichos, Reb Sholom noticed the Rebbe looking intently in his direction, and holding up four fingers, a sign that someone should partake of the four cups of wine.

To whom was the Rebbe gesturing? Reb Sholom assumed that it was to another chassid nearby; he was certain it was not to him. But when, almost insistently, the Rebbe pointed to Reb Sholom’s son, Avraham Moshe, and held up four fingers, the intent became clear: The boy should also drink the four cups.1

So Reb Sholom filled a cup and gave it to his son. The boy held it up to the Rebbe, received a nod of approval, recited the blessing and drank it to the bottom. The Rebbe smiled and began delivering another sichah.

After concluding that sichah, the Rebbe again turned to Reb Sholom and Avraham Moshe, holding three fingers up and one bent over. Again, the intent was clear, and the boy downed his second cup.

As the farbrengen continued, young Avraham Moshe drank his third and fourth cups of wine. Shortly thereafter the farbrengen concluded, and the chassidim lined up to receive wine from “the cup of blessing.”

Avraham Moshe, however, was not among them; the late hour and the four cups of wine had taken their toll, and the lad had fallen fast asleep on a table. One of the Deitschs’ neighbors volunteered to carry him home while his father stayed behind to partake of “the cup of blessing.”

When Reb Sholom approached the Rebbe, the Rebbe asked him where his son was. When Reb Sholom explained that the boy had fallen asleep, the Rebbe smiled understandingly. Reb Sholom then moved on, curious as to the meaning of the sequence of events.

Several weeks later, on the holiday of Shavuos, Reb Sholom suffered his first heart attack. When he had recuperated enough to take his place at a farbrengen, he approached the Rebbe and asked for a blessing for health. In reply, the Rebbe told him: “I gave your son the four cups to drink.”