Below is an excerpt from a talk from the Rebbe

The Previous Rebbe always urged us to teach children the letters of the aleph bais in the ancient, traditional way, by teaching "komatz aleph aw!" etc. The letters and the vowels represent two levels of holiness, and the Jew must unite the two, by saying the name of the vowel, "komatz," and the name of the letter, "aleph," and then vocalizing them together, "aw." The Previous Rebbe concludes, that when the child is taught "komatz aleph aw" we plant the fear of G-d in the heart of the child. Furthermore, the "komatz aleph aw" is connected with the letter "aleph" and the "komatz" vowel in the word "Anochi" (of the Ten Commandments) and thereby connects the child to the realm of "Anochi." As a result the child is connected to the whole Torah, since all the 613 commandments are generalized in the Ten Commandments, and the ten are encapsulated in the first commandment, which is condensed in the first word and compressed in the first letter, the "aleph" of "Anochi." Hence the small initial steps made by the proper beginning of "komatz aleph aw," will lead the student to the highest level of studying the "Work of the Chariot." In teaching the "aleph-bais" of Yiddishkeit the same approach must be followed. While starting with the basic building blocks of Judaism, (the alphabet) -- you must at the same time convey the spirit of "Anochi," the wellsprings of the inner teachings of Torah, in an intellectual and sensible manner. A Shabbos farbrengen personifies the concept of unity, for when Jews gather with friendship, all disunity is obliterated and their solidarity is invigorated. Such gatherings also influence all those assembled to make strong resolutions to increase their involvement in spreading and strengthening Torah observance. Add to this the practice of saying "Le'Chayim," as is the Chassidic custom, and since "A Jewish custom has the validity of Torah" (Talmud Yerushalmi, Pesachim 4:1) this also increases the unity, for, Of great importance is the mouthful (of food or drink)...since it draws near those who are distant.
(Sanhedrin 103b) source http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/sichos-in-english/29/16.htm;