We learn in various texts that all Jews are connected. The answer to the question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" is "Yes." We are connected and must help each other.
We can envision everyone as a connection on a big network of HaShem. There are objects connected to the network as well, such as the Sefer Torah and Tefillin, and holy places, such as the Temple Mount and the Marat HaMachpela (the burial caves in Hevron). All our prayers and blessings travel over this network to the main server. The main server is the root of the Temple Mount. From this root, all our prayers and blessings ascend to Hashem. We also receive all our answers from this same source.
Each person's connection to the network is unique, and each connection has its own strength. The more mitzvos a person does, the stronger their connection. We learn in Tanya, that eating non-Kosher food has a klipah -- a block -- reducing the "throughput" on the network connection. We learn from Rebbe Nachman, that following a Tzaddik can increase a person's connection to Am Yisrael, while following someone that lies reduces the strength of the connection.
I learned recently that doing mitzvos is only part of the solution. Sitting and learning in yeshivah helps keep Torah in the world, and maybe the studying will shed light on some other piece of Israel's labor in the world, for example, on Israel's political situation; but ultimately the work of a yeshivah bachor (student) needs to be combined with the work of others beyond his yeshivah. Each of us is like a node in the distrubted networks of super computers on the Internet. (SETI @ Home is one such supercomputer. Another searches for new prime numbers.) Software runs on people's home computers, and when their computers have available time they crunch numbers and report answers back to their main server which puts together all the information. In our case, when Jews do mitzvos and learn Torah, they are like individual computers crunching numbers. Just like the nodes on a distributed network crunch numbers, update the server, and get new inputs from that server, the Tzaddik, we learn in Likutei Moran, has the task or job for each of us and we need only ask for our piece. The role of the Servers –- the Tzaddikim –- beyond the individual computers, is to puts the pieces together.
If we want to amplify our connections to HaShem and to each other, and if we want to find the solutions to all the problems plaguing the Jewish People, we need to do mitzvos. Starting to do mitzvas is hard, and taking on all the mitzvos at once is impossible. We can start with simple ones. Lighting Shabbat candles is a sign on Friday Night that it's Shabbat. Even if watching TV or working is on the schedule for Shabbat, designating Shabbat as special is an important first step. Another simple and beautiful way to designate Shabbat as a special time is making Kiddush, saying a blessing and drinking some wine (or grape juice). The Candles and Kiddush are the entry way of Shabbat. We also mark the exit of Shabbat, Saturday night, with a short Havdalah service, which also includes candle-light and wine (or grape juice). These simple recognitions only take a few minutes and they're huge steps toward Jewish continuity and to sanctifying Shabbat.
Why the focus on Shabbat? Rebbe Nachman says that by guarding Shabbat we help build the Palace -- the Palace being the Temple. The Temple is at our network's very core, it's the place at which all the world connects with HaShem. So, each step toward keeping Shabbat and rebuilding the Temple is a step we take to solving our problems and fixing the world. Shabbat Shalom!