1. The seven types of Jews:

Each particular Jewish soul is referred to as a candle, while the general souls of Israel are referred to as a Menorah. The Menorah contains seven candles which correspond to seven levels of service of G-d. Some individuals serve G-d with love which is similar to water while other individuals serve G-d with love that is similar to fire. Others mainly serve G-d with the study of Torah, while others serve G-d with the attribute of Netzach, to battle and overcome their evil inclination in stirring away from evil and performing good. Others serve G-d through thanks and others serve G-d through Hisnasus. Hisnasus is holy arrogance as it states in the Talmud that all the Jewish people are considered sons of kings and as it states in scripture that one must raise his heart with courage to serve G-d. Others serve G-d with humility and humbleness.

• The divine lesson: The above teaching is fundamental to understanding the dichotomy of the Jewish people and the fact that it contains so many different sects. Ashkenazi Jewry, Sephardic Jewry, Chasidic Jewry, and all of the dozens of factions contained within each one of these groups. Often, the difference between these groups are not just in ethnicity and culture but in their focus within the Jewish religion. Most notably, Lithuanian Jewry focuses on Talmud and the legal portion of the Torah while Chasidic Jewry focuses mainly on the esoteric which is experienced through prayer, a Chasidic master, and the study of the inner dimensions of the Torah. Which is correct, or does no one have the monopoly over truth in service of G-d? Interestingly, the Alter Rebbe was asked this very question during the interrogations of the second incarceration. He responded that there exist some souls that are more inclined towards prayer and some more inclined towards Torah study. A similar idea was shared by Rabbi Simcha Wasserman, the son of Rav Elchonan Wasserman, during a convention of rabbis in California which included Chabad emissaries as well as reform and conservative rabbis. Rabbi Wasserman who was seen talking and acting friendly with the Chabad Rabbis was asked by a colleague who was a conservative Rabbi as to why he is so friendly with Chabad, as after all he is part of the Lithuanian camp who oppose the Hasidim. So Rabbi Wasserman answered him that the Jewish people are like an army, and just like in an army there are many different positions that need to be filled each one being equally vital for the war effort, so too the Jewish people collectively are part of the Army of G-d and each sect of Judaism fulfills a different position in that Army. Hence, while he and Chabad may have different views on many subjects nonetheless, they are both part of G-d’s army.