Hashem Echad Witness to Oneness

The ayin and daled in the pasuk of Shema are written extra large. These letters spell the word eid, a witness. Klal Yisrael are witnesses to the Oneness of Hashem, testifying to it twice a day. Throughout all the generations, it has been the Jewish people who have declared to the world that Hashem is One.

When saying the word echad, we should think to ourselves that Hashem is alef, One—on earth and in all seven levels of the heavens (adding up to eight, ches), and daled, in all four directions of north, south, east and west.

Adapted from Emunah in the Classroom