At one point, the holy brothers, Rav Zushe and Rav Elimelech, went into self-imposed exile, wandering from place to place without revealing their identities to anyone.
During their travels, they once came to the city of Berditchov and knocked on the door of Rav Levi Yitzchok zy”a, asking him for a place to stay. At this time, Rav Levi Yitzchok’s greatness was not yet well known, and they thought he was a simple Yid. Of course, he invited them into his home and gave them food to eat and beds to sleep on.
When all three of them laid down to sleep, Rav Levi Yitzchok pretended to be asleep while the brothers were unable to sleep because they sensed the holiness of the place where they were. Rav Zushe said to Rav Elimelech, “I can sense that Eliyahu Hanavi spends time in this Rebbele’s house.”
Rav Levi Yitzchok heard their conversation and understood that they weren’t simple travelers. Rather, they were great men who could feel the presence of Eliyahu Hanavi. He got up and asked them, “Are you the famous brothers who wander around from place to place?”
Rav Zushe replied, “It is true that Zushe and Meilich are brothers.”
Rav Levi Yitzchok then said, “I was going to recite Tikkun Chatzos but now that I have such distinguished guests, it would be preferable to speak to them about avodas Hashem.”
They then began a conversation on holy topics. During their discussion, Rav Levi Yitzchok asked, “Are you connected to any Rebbe?”
They answered that they were not. When he asked why not, they said, “Why should we travel to see a Rebbe? There are many sifrei mussar and hashkafa that can teach us how to serve Hashem!”
Rav Levi Yitzchok then asked, “Do you know the kavanos for Birchas Hamazon?”
Rav Zushe said that he did and he began to list the various kavanos to have in mind during Birchas Hamazon. Rav Levi Yitzchok stopped him and said, “If you would go to Rav Ber of Mezheritch, you would really know what Birchas Hamazon is.”
Rav Zushe thought for a few minutes and said, “Zushe also already knows.”
He then began to list more kavanos for Birchas Hamazon. Rav Levi Yitzchok again told him that there were many more kavanos and he would only understand them if he went to see Rav Ber.
When he heard this, Rav Zushe declared, “Ribono Shel Olam, do You have other kavanos that You haven’t revealed to Zushe?” He thought for another few minutes and said, “Zushe knows those too.”
He then began listing the kavanos that had just been revealed to him. However, Rav Levi Yitzchok told him again that if he would meet Rav Ber, he would truly know what Birchas Hamazon is.
When Rav Zushe heard that there still were more kavanos that he didn’t know, he realized that he had been sent the message from Shomayim to go to this tzadik, and he and Rav Elimelech decided to go see Rav Ber. From then on, they became close chasidim of the Magid of Mezheritch zy”a.
