I am writing this entry from Brooklyn where I am attending the annual conference of Chabad Rabbis. (Imagine 2500 black hats packed into a ballroom). It is a weekend of sessions and workshops discussing issues that concern world Jewry.
One of the more moving sessions actually begins around 11 pm. After the kids are sleeping and the official program is over for the day, we sit down amongst friends usually with a bottle of LiChaim in the middle) and we share what is on our mind and heart. It lasts for a few hours until we have to catch some sleep so that we can attend another day of round table discussions.
Last night I sat around a table with a rabbi from West Boomfield, MI - Pudong, China - Phoenix, AZ - Table View, South Africa, only to mention a few.
The ages were from 23 to 41. The sizes of the Jewish community were from a few hundred people to the tens of thousands.
But the beauty of it all is that it didn't matter where we were from, how old we were, how big the community was or the size of our budget. We all had a common goal and vision which united us - and all Jews - around the world.
The Torah has what to say and can give advise to everyone, no matter the situation they find themselves in. Our job is only to have the patience and divine inspiration to be able to implement it in our lives.
It is the unifying element of all Jewish communities and people in all times and all places.
Towards the end of the night, after sharing words of inspiration and good wishes, we got up with a recommitment to our communities. That commitment is to find the common aspect - the common good - in all of us. The spirituality that pushes us all to be better people and better Jews. Regardless of who or where we are - the Torah has one to tell us in improving our lives.