Planning a Bat Mitzvah? How about your wedding? Maybe getting ready for that first baby? As a congregational rabbi, Yohanna Kinberg has seen it all. Because she’s been on the front lines of a decade’s worth of lifecycle events, she knows the players. So it occurred to her, given her knowledge, that she should share that knowledge with the rest of Seattle’s Jewish community.
“I know all the vendors from doing so many B’nai Mitzvah and doing so many parties — the food I like, and which DJ I like,” Kinberg said. “Very few people get to do that.”
On Sunday, Nov. 4, Kinberg’s synagogue, Temple B’nai Torah, will host the Simcha Fair and bring nearly 30 caterers, photographers, venues, musicians, activity providers and more in one spot for an afternoon of tastings, demonstrations and music.
“It’s so wonderful to have the opportunity to talk to vendors and see what it is they have to offer,” Kinberg said. “Sometimes it’s time consuming to go from place to place.”
JTNews is co-sponsoring the event.
Some of the demonstrations include sets by two local bands, Sasson and the Shalom Ensemble, featuring Chava Mirel, as well as DJs Nick Barratt and Premier Entertainment.
There will be a vendor of kosher foods, Nosh Away, as well as several that might not be kosher but still cater to Jewish events. And there are “fun things like photo booths and henna,” Kinberg said, that “are striking me as being really creative.”
While the Simcha Fair is taking place at Temple B’nai Torah, Kinberg envisions the event as one that transcends denomination or synagogue membership — everyone plans a simcha at one point or another, and the idea of having them all in one room to show off their wares is a way to bring people from different parts of the community together while supporting the businesses that provide for these important occasions.
Grace Keller, an events specialist at Kaspars Special Events & Catering, said that her company’s owners come from diverse cultures and “we think that the Jewish community is a fabulous opportunity for our business to grow,” she said. “The more we reach out to different communities, we can really spread the word of great food, great friends, and keep making memories of the events that we put on.”