Guided by the Rif

It is told that in his youth Rav Menachem Mendel studied in the bais medrash of Rav Doniel Yaffe in Berlin. He studied the works of the Rif diligently, and his soul thirsted for self-perfection. Once he learned so much in one sitting that his tongue stuck to his palate.

He began to daven deep in his heart and cried to Hashem to enlighten him and brighten his darkness. He davened and davened until he fell into a deep sleep and dreamed. In the dream he saw the Rif himself, who showed him an image of Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk and told him to travel to the Rebbe, for there he would reach the goal he sought.