The only difference between the letters Dalet and Resh is a small protrusion. It is written in the holy Zohar that this protrusion is the tzaddik (Tikkuney Zohar #21, 55b, 58b). Separating oneself from a tzaddik separates the protrusion from the Dalet, making it into a Resh. The word EChaD (one) expresses God’s unity. Substitute a Resh for the Dalet in echaD and you have acheR (another). It is written, “You shall not bow down to another god” (Exodus 34:14). Remove the protrusion and the Dalet becomes a Resh – the echaD of God’s unity becomes the acheR of idolatry and atheism (see Baal HaTurim on Deuteronomy 6:4).
אָמַר לְאֶחָד: כְּשֶׁנִּפְרָדִין ח"ו מֵהַצַּדִּיקִים, כְּאִלּוּ עוֹבְדִין עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.
The Rebbe said: Separating oneself from a tzaddik is like committing idolatry.
כִּי אִיתָא בַּזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ (תִּקּוּנֵי זֹהַר כא) שֶׁהַצַּדִּיק הוּא קוּצָא דְּאוֹת ד'. וּכְשֶׁנִּפְרָדִין מִמֶּנּוּ ח"ו, אֲזַי מַפְרִידִין קוּצָא דְּאוֹת ד' דְּאֶחָד (דְּבָרִים ו) וְנַעֲשֶׂה ח"ו אַחֵר (שְׁמוֹת לד־יד) שֶׁהוּא אֵל אַחֵר כְּפִירוּת.
The only difference between the letters Dalet and Resh is a small protrusion. It is written in the holy Zohar that this protrusion is the tzaddik (Tikkuney Zohar #21, 55b, 58b). Separating oneself from a tzaddik separates the protrusion from the Dalet, making it into a Resh. The word EChaD (one) expresses God’s unity. Substitute a Resh for the Dalet in echaD and you have acheR (another). It is written, “You shall not bow down to another god” (Exodus 34:14). Remove the protrusion and the Dalet becomes a Resh – the echaD of God’s unity becomes the acheR of idolatry and atheism (see Baal HaTurim on Deuteronomy 6:4).
כִּי עִקַּר אֱמוּנַת הַיִּחוּד הוּא עַל יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהֵם קוּצָא דְּאוֹת ד' דְּאֶחָד וְכַּנַּ"ל.
Faith in God comes through the true tzaddikim, who are the protrusion of the Dalet that expresses God’s unity (cf. Likutey Moharan I, 10:5).
וְכֵן מְבֹאָר עִנְיָן זֶה בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת בְּדִבְרֵי רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, שֶׁעִקַּר הָאֱמוּנָה תּוֹלֶה בַּהִתְקָרְבוּת לַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים:
In many places, the Rebbe says that the root of faith can be attained only through closeness to the tzaddikim.