אַחַת מִתּוֹרוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁל רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן

One of the Alter Rebbe’s first teachings,

"וְנִקְרְאוּ אָז בְּשֵׁם "וועֶרטעֶר

which in those [early] days were known as verter, was the following mystical interpretation of the opening verse of the Shema:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל — אַ אִיד דעֶרהעֶרט

Shema Yisrael (lit., “Hear, O Israel”) — a Jew hears deeply that

הֲוָיָ' אֱלֹקֵינוּ — אַז כּוֹחֵנוּ וְחַיּוּתֵינוּ אִיז דאָס לְמַעֲלָה מִן הַטֶּבַע

Havayah Elokeinu — our strength and vitality transcend nature,

אוּן — הֲוָיָ' אֶחָד.

and that Havayah Echad — Havayah is One.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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