The World Needs Beautiful Things

by Leah Rachel Berkowitz

Young Bezalel is different from the other Israelite slaves in Egypt. He loves to collect stones, bugs, bits of string - these all seem beautiful to him. He keeps everything in his Beautiful Things Box and takes it with him everywhere. As the Israelites wander in the desert, God asks them to build a very special house - and Bezalel may be the only one who can create something beautiful enough to honor God.

Please The original source audio for this production includes noise/volume issues. This is the best available audio from the publisher.

Genres: Jewish, Picture Books, Childrens, Religion

Audible Audio

Published January 24, 2020

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Bezalel is an Israelite slave who loves to collect “beautiful things.” Beauty, as we all know, is in the eye of the beholder. Into his little box go bits of shiny, scrapes of ribbons, stones, feathers, leaves and bugs. Much to the chagrin of his parents and fellow slaves, he persists.

When he and the rest of the slaves are freed and told to leave their lands, they journey to a new life, taking only essential needs. For Bezalel, that is his box of pretties, to which he adds to on their journey, also noting all that he sees that can not fit in his box.

Then God tells Moses he wants a place to stay when he visits his people. A place with pretty things he can enjoy. “But we live in a desert!” Moses replies. Where are they to find such?

Bezalel offers his box and is thusly appointed designer of God’s mishkan.

It’s a sweet telling of Biblical verse, richly illustrated and endearing.

[Rebecca Einstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brand-new retelling of Bezalel and how he was the right person to design the Mishkan. Leah Berkowitz has crafted a charming story that reminds the reader that there are beautiful things surrounding us all the time and why it's important to seek them out. I can't wait to share this marvelous book with my nieces and nephew and all of the youngsters in my community.

[Maya]

This was a more engaged and complex book than I first anticipated-- which was a bonus. I'm glad the author took the care that she did to flesh out the story and make it a tale of community, from the spiritual to the material and back again. The world does need more beautiful things. :)

I read it through a parenting lens of bringing a child on a long trek and into new land who was also a collector and interested in the material.

I will be looking for more good stories by this author.

Companion read: "Frederick" by Leo Lionni.

[Beth KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kiddo and I both LOVE this book for its heart, the young hero at the center of it all (which makes it so relate-able, especially since - minor spoiler alert - my child ALSO loves collecting things that I have trouble initially seeing the beauty in; primarily, rocks), and its beautiful illustrations. Can't wait to stack our shelves with more books from this author!

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting Jewish parable on...seeing the beauty (and the joy that comes with it) within the world and the role of artists during biblical times.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[Jen Finke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect story for my son who loves truth, beauty, and goodness.

[Anthony S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Keep God books labeled clearly. I don't want this but had no clue it was religious. God is dead ~nietzsche

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all need to see beauty in the world like Bezalel

I believe that Rabbi Berkowitz’s beautiful book is a reminder for all of us to open our eyes to see the beauty that surrounds us in the world today.

[Mark Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant

This will be part of our Seder with our grandchildren. (Though also meaningful for adults, and not just for Passover), this will definitely enhance that experience.

[Crystal]

Copy provide by publisher.