The Tzaddik and the Rebbe

How deep should be the relationship between the Tzaddik and his followers?

Moshe Rabeinu of blessed memory acted as an intermediary between the Jewish people and Hashem, may He be blessed. He connected the Jewish people to our Father in Heaven, through their connecting with him, and his connecting with Hashem, may He be blessed. This is the meaning of the verse: “The entire congregation of the children of Yisrael went out—from before Moshe” (Shemos 35:20). This means that even though they had gone out, they were still in Moshe’s presence.

This is an admonition to future generations to bond with Tzaddikim, who are on the level of Moshe, with a strong, firm, lasting bond. Then even if one is not actually (physically) with them (the Tzaddikim), the impression and engraving (of the bond established with the Tzaddikim) will remain with them. In this way they will be constantly connected to Hashem, may He be blessed.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kasover, Ahavas Shalom, Vayakeil, s.v. vayetzu.

In my own words:

The Tzaddik’s profound connection with Hashem enables his followers, who connect with him, to connect with Hashem on a far deeper level. Thus, the deeper one’s bond with the Tzaddik, the deeper one’s bond with Hashem. So by the follower establishing a bond with the Tzaddik that is so profound and intimate that he constantly feels that he is in the Tzaddik’s presence, he is elevated to a point where his intimate connection with Hashem will also continue uninterruptedly.