In these times of the World Cup, there are many lessons that can be learned from both football and the World Cup itself, as discussed at the last Kabbalat Shabbat at Beit Chabad.
It's interesting to think that there are certain times of day when millions (literally) of people in different parts of the world are doing the same thing: watching a football match. This phenomenon is so powerful that media outlets bid fortunes for broadcasting rights, companies pay huge sums to be official sponsors, and so on.
And what positive outcome does all this have for society in general and for the individual in particular? Nothing. One game comes, another goes, some win, some lose, life goes on, and you're in the same place you were before.
Judaism is different. By simply performing a mitzvah, a single person makes a difference in the world, brings God to earth, and refines themselves in the process. Imagine a group of Jews performing a mitzvah, for example, praying Shabbat in the morning, and even more so millions of Jews doing the same thing—it would have an awe-inspiring effect on the world. As our sages say, if we all together observed Shabbat properly, the Messiah would come!
May we have the merit to learn from what surrounds us, to appreciate what we have, and to bring about the Final Redemption quickly in our days.