Dream Up Events

In this time of increasing hostility towards minorities, Fiesta de La Simcha calls on the unmatched power of the arts to foster connections between the local Jewish and Hispanic communities. In concerts on December 4th and 5th, Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band and the
Fabiola Mendez Trio will fuse music from both Jewish and Latin traditions creating a vibrant soundtrack to strengthen our community and understanding. On December 5, you can also join us for pre-show dinner and book signing with Amherst College Professor Ilan Stavan,
author of Sabor Judio: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook.

A collaborative production by Dream Up Events, The Hispanic-American Library, The Puerto Rican Cultural Center, The Springfield Conservatory of Music, The Jewish Federation of Western MA, and other local organizations.

THE LINEUP

Learn more about key people involved in the Fiesta

Fabiola Méndez

Fabiola Méndez is a Puerto Rican cuatro player, singer, Emmy-nominated composer, and educator. Her artistic vision and original music focus on the exploration of her culture, her ancestry, and her identities. Native to Caguas, PR, Fabiola began playing the cuatro, Puerto Rico's national instrument, at the age of six. Fabiola's mission has always been to share and celebrate the cuatro, folk music, and collective story-telling. In doing so, she's had the honor of working with organizations such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, Celebrity Series of Boston, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Fred Rogers Productions, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, among many others. She has also collaborated with many local and international artists such as the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Totó La Momposina, Pedro Capó, and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra.

Learn more at https://www.fabiolamendezmusic.com/

Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band

Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band is one of the world's top klezmer ensembles. They have performed everywhere from Amsterdam's Het Compagnie Theater to Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and DC's Kennedy Center. Along with their eight albums, their music has been featured on television in the Netherlands and Brazil, and on the Boston Jewish Music Festival’s compilation album. When they’re not playing klezmer, they can be found backing up such household names as Eminem, Hugh Jackman, Weird Al Yankovic, Amanda Palmer, and Chris Botti, and holding down the pit orchestras of musical theater shows across New England.

Learn more at https://ewklezmer.com.

Professor Ilan Stavans

Professor Ilan Stavans, the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities and Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College, is an internationally known, award-winning cultural critic, linguist, translator, public speaker, editor, short-story writer, and TV host. Born in Mexico in 1961 into a Jewish family with roots in Eastern Europe, he was raised in a multilingual environment. His newest book, co-written with Margaret Boyle, Sabor Judio: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook, features 100 deeply personal recipes. Joyously written, Stavans and Boyle’s lavishly illustrated cookbook demonstrates how cooking and eating reflect identity and connect people across places and generations.

Dream Up Events’ mission is to collaboratively produce innovative multi-cultural events showcasing the universal relevance of art inspired by the Jewish experience.
It is an offshoot of Dream Up Consulting, a creative communications resource for non-profit organizations and small businesses led by Joey Baron. After a 25-year career as an award-winning advertising creative, Joey founded two successful non-profit organizations: the Boston Jewish Music Festival and the Jewish Arts Collaborative. In creating opportunities for all people to engage with great Jewish culture in unexpected environments - day schools, nightclubs, synagogues, concert halls, museums, parks, homes, and storefronts - he has proven to be an innovative producer of and advocate for community-building cultural events.

Jewish Federation of Western MA

Our fiscal sponsor, the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts supports vital educational and social service programs to help those in need and create vibrant Jewish life in Western Massachusetts. Grounded in the values of justice, repairing the world, and Jewish unity, Federation connects people to a community that pursues social justice, fights hunger and poverty, rescues and resettles people in danger, and strengthens Jewish life. Federation offers life-long, enriching Jewish experiences for people of all ages through a network of agencies, synagogues, organizations, professionals, and volunteers. jewishwesternmass.org.

Tickets and Reservations

FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT
| WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 4 | 7PM |

Springfield Conservatory of the Arts

339 State St.

Springfield, MA 01105

CONCERT 7PM
PRE-CONCERT DINNER 5:30PM
| THURSDAY | DECEMBER 5 |

Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity

130 Pine Street

Florence, MA

Ticket for 7PM Concert $25 General Admission $35 Preferred Seating

Ticket for 7 PM Concert with Cookbook $65

FIESTA SPECIAL: 5:30 Concert, Cookbook, Preconcert Cafe and Dessert Tasting with Ilan Stavans $95 per person, $175 for two people with only one cookbook.

All Tickets including a Cookbook must be purchased by November 20.

About the Tasting:

Enjoy your favorite coffee drink, tea, or hot chocolate while tasting 5 desserts from the Sabor Judio cookbook. Ilan Stavans will share stories and do a book signing.

Desserts may include: