Rav Yitzchok Alfasi the Rif

GUIDED BY THE RIF

Once, in his youth, Rav Menachem Mendel of Rimanov was studying in the Bais Medrash under Rav Doniel Yaffe in Berlin. He studied the works of the Rif on the Talmud 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 his dreams he saw the Rif himself. The Rif showed him an image of Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk and told him to travel to the Rebbe, for there he would succeed in attaining his goal.

(Ohel Elimelech 183)