Two Minute Torah Podcast

Vayakhel 5768 by Rabbi Cheryl Peretz

Have you ever noticed how universities can be breeding grounds for competition and personal comparisons? Perhaps you’ve witnessed fellow classmates, friends, or even yourself succumb to the temptation to look at the person next to you, saying: There is no way I’ll ever be as good as he is at …….." (you fill in the blank – at art, at science, at math, at socializing)

It is so easy to compare ourselves to others, to think we are all in competition with one another and that we are supposed to be equally good – or even better – than the next person.

As our ancestors wandered in the desert, they united in their attempts to build a mishkan – a tabernacle – to serve God. In describing how they did so, the Torah is quite emphatic that each person was instructed to make the exact same contribution to the building of the Tabernacle declaring "the rich shall not give more nor shall the poor give less than one half shekel." Yet, according to this week’s Torah portion, Vayakhel, it is not the equal contribution of each person that ultimately brings the construction to fruition, but the talents and gifts of one person, Bezalel. "God filled him with Divine spirit, with wisdom, insight, and knowledge and with every craft – to weave designs, to work with gold, silver, and copper; stone cutting for setting. And wood carving – to perform every craft of design."

All that talent in one single, masterfully skilled artisan through whose hands the tabernacle ultimately completed. Not only does it seem that Bezalel is considered the most talented, but even God considers him to be so. In fact, as the Torah records, it is God who gives him this superior talent. Is it any wonder that people become competitive?

Or, perhaps there is another poignant, important lesson in this narrative.

Bezalel was blessed with the unique, God given talent and skill to craft the designs of the taberbacle. And, each of us – we too are endowed by God with our own unique talents and gifts – our own ways of contributing to our community and to our world. By recognizing and celebrating someone else’s talent, we take one more step to a world fulfilled and perhaps we can even come closer to recognizing our own gifts as well.

As we approach Shabbat, think about the people around you. What are their unique talents and contributions? And, think about yourself – what are your unique gifts from God that can help you make this world a better place? With whom will you share those gifts this week??