We all have talents. Some of us can sing, others can rap, paint, juggle, or even play an obscure musical instrument. Other people are athletically inclined, and perhaps can run a five and a half minute mile. There are even people with strange talents, such as an ability to dance while standing on their hands, or burping the ABCs.

Our talents are precious gifts. Every person has a unique mission in life, and the talents G-d gave you are a part of your unique toolbelt carefully designed to best help you make your intended mark on the world. Just like a constructor worker has a hammer and a screwdriver, tools to help him with his specific job, Hashem has given every single one of us a whole slew of talents that we can use to achieve our purpose in life.

Betzalel, a Torah personality in this week’s Parshat Pekudei, best exemplifies this idea. He is a tremendously talented artist, and he uses this talent to essentially serve as the manager and head artist of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) construction. By recognizing his unique talent, and then deciding to use this talent to serve Gd, Betzalel was able to achieve his unique life purpose, and be the builder of the Mishkan.

We are all talented. It is up to us however to recognize our talents, and use them to serve Gd and fulfill our life’s purpose.

Shabbat Shalom!

Sarah Engel

National Board President