Awards Season

It is awards season.  From the Winter Olympics through to the Oscars, talented men and women will be rewarded with the recognition of their skills. Often, they will point skyward and offer thanks to God. Regardless of whether the artist giving the speech is religious or spiritual, many express a belief that God helped them to receive their award.

God might not be voting for award nominees. Yet, our tradition acknowledges that God is the source of our skills. In Torah this week, we read of a time when expertise and talent were a specific part of God’s plan.

The stage was set at the foot of Mount Sinai. God provided Moses with extensive details on how to build the mishkan, a traveling tabernacle. God described all of the materials needed, from copper and gold to wood carving and dolphin skins.  Afterward, God selected the general contractor.  God named Bezalel as the chief artisan. As Torah states:  “I (God) have endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft.”

God has endowed each of us with certain skills, abilities, and knowledge. In recognizing our God-given gifts, we face two challenges. The first challenge is for each of us to identify and nurture that talent. Understanding our abilities as gifts from God instills both a sense of reverence and modesty. To waste our talents is like an affront to God.  And to presume that our talents come solely from our own efforts is hubris.  The second challenge is for us not to value our individual worth by comparing our talents to those of others. Only a few will win awards, yet all of us are created with infinite value.

I have my reservations about stating that God is responsible for each success or failure in our lives. I don’t have a belief that God selects the winners and losers among us. Yet, each of us can appreciate the talents we have. We don’t need an award to express gratitude to God.

Rabbi Evan J. Krame