“Goooooal!!” In the 106th minute of the FIFA World Cup Final, Ferran Torres scored what ended up being the winning goal against Argentina on July 19. That game concluded the month-and-a-half-long world tournament that brought people from around the world together through fútbol/soccer. Not long after it ended, CLTC 4 began, which, like the World Cup, would bring Jews together from all over the world.

Some of the best friends I made were from the same country that won the World Cup: Spain. Just being able to talk with them about where they live, and not even about Jewish things, was such a fun experience on its own.

We talked about music, sports, food, and our Jewish communities back home. We had lots in common, from our love of soccer and Bad Bunny to BBYO. We communicated in Spanglish and learned words in each other’s languages.

Not just with them, but with many others, I felt a shared pride in our Judaism. However, it was interesting to hear how different everyone’s experiences were. There is nothing that compares to BBYO’s pluralism, not just in its values but also in the people who participate in it. I made friends who attend Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox synagogues, and I don’t think I have ever been in a space where I have felt that much diversity in terms of the different ways people practice Judaism.

The World Cup may bring people together through a shared passion, but CLTC shows that you can be the same without coming from the same community.