I think that the Mumbai tragedy has really brought Chabad to the spotlight. Everyone knows of Chabad and how they’re everywhere, but not everyone always knew the extent to which they operate. The story of the Holtzberg’s showed us what sacrifice they make and what good they can bring. The Holtzberg’s were the source of all kosher food – Gabriel slaughtered meat himself, they led services, bar mitzvahs, weddings, classes, guests every week; single handed. They brought so many people closer to Judaism. Their whole lives were totally absorbed in this purpose, yet they were filled to the brim with humility.
I look around and I see so many organisations along with Chabad, Breslev, etc trying to reach out to people. Yet they all have different ways of doing so. And I think; which is the right one, which is the truth. But really, they’re all right and they’re all true. Judaism from the outside would appear to look segregated and all the different sects appear to be in disagreement. In actuality, every single sect is the correct sect and every single Chassidic sect has the correct rebbe. All Jews stem from one, all Chassidut stems from one. And they’re each simply on their own path with their own tafkid (role) going towards the same goal. And you know what, Hashem helps every single one of them.
Why am I telling you this? Too often, we’re so involved in our own outlook and our own way of doing things that we not only ignore the other methods but we disrespect them. If we just take a moment to explore another community or sect we will see such harmony within Judaism. Ok, X has this minhag, Y says this benching but Z doesn’t, etc – but X, Y and Z are colleagues and brothers. Everyone personally identifies more with one over the other, but we can all get something out of each one. It’s about taking the good from everything and respecting the rest.
I got speaking to a mother who had reluctantly just sent her daughter to seminary. She wasn’t religious herself but was angry that her daughter had become religious and couldn’t understand what she saw in Judaism.
The winter is drawing in on us. The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder. All we feel like doing is snuggling up next to the radiator with a hot chocolate and blanket. Let’s compare this to the summer; everything’s go, go, go! The sun’s out, the sky’s clear, the grass is dry. All we want to do is go outside and do, do, do! All the sudden we have so much energy. Why does the weather have to dictate our mood like this? And if, like me, you unfortunately live in a climate which even during “summer” is constantly wet and grey then you’ve just no chance for any sort of energetic mood. So, why, Hashem, do we have winter? 
