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Podcast: The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman
Episode: Hayom Yom 19 Cheshvan - Chassidus is Shema Yisrael, higher and higher
Description: מַעֲנֵה רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן לִיחִידוּתIn response to a question at yechidus, the Alter Rebbe once gave the following response: חֲסִידוּת איז שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל“Chassidus is Shema Yisrael. שְׁמַע אִיז רָאשֵׁי תֵּיבוֹת שְׂאוּ מָרוֹם עֵינֵיכֶםThe word Shema (שמע) is an acronym for the words, ‘Raise your eyes on high’ (שאו מרום עיניכם) — וְאוֹמֵר מָרוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַיִם‘on high,’ not ‘heavenward.’ מָרוֹם אִיז העֶכעֶר אוּן העֶכעֶרThat means higher and higher, לְהַגִּיעַ לְמַעְלָה מִן הַשֵּׂכֶלreaching beyond the intellect. וְזֶה גוּפָא לְהָבִינוֹ בְּשֵׂכֶלYet [we should] understand this very [non-intellectual] dimension with our minds as well — וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאוֹמֵר וּרְאוּ מִי בָּרָא אֵלֶּהas the verse continues, “and behold Who created these.”Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English