“If you build it, he will come.” 

Many of us remember that memorable line from the 1989 film, “Field of Dreams,” when Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) hears this directive, builds a baseball diamond and to his surprise — and delight — Shoeless Joe Jackson and other deceased ball players arrive to, well, play ball.

In some ways, the Sababa cultural festival that took place last Sunday at Washington University grew out of a similar vision. Leadership at both the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the Jewish Community Center joined forces and engaged dozens of others in the local Jewish community to imagine what a St. Louis-based, free festival that showcases the enormous breadth, depth and tradition of Jewish art, music and food would look like. 

It took more than a year of serious planning and countless meetings to formulate this vision and bring it to fruition, but indeed they did. They built it. And despite a damp, grey October day with rain threatening, we came.

We came to buy pottery and paintings and jewelry from more than 25 local Jewish artists and hear a range of musical styles and sounds from four regionally and nationally known Jewish bands. We came to try kosher sushi and barbecue and enjoy Kohn’s iconic upside-down chocolate cupcakes, as well as sample other, non-kosher treats with a Jewish twist. We came to walk around the festival grounds and schmooze with friends and colleagues, some of whom staffed booths that represented more than two dozen St. Louis Jewish organizations and institutions.

We came alone, we came with friends and we came with family. In all, close to 3,000 came to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of Jewish life and culture here. For a first-time festival that lasted just seven hours, that number is something to be proud of.

Looking at the crowd, it was heartening to see people from all streams of Judaism as well as the unaffiliated, along with non-Jews who were curious to check out what the festival had to offer. In addition to art, music and food, on display was the pride we take in being Jewish and embracing our “Jewishness” to whatever degree we feel comfortable, on pluralistic ground.

Many are wondering whether Sababa, which means “cool” or “awesome” in Modern Hebrew slang, will become an annual event. As of now, organizers who had initially thought it would take place every other year, are considering the options and asking for community feedback. We certainly vote for the festival to return sooner rather than later.

After all, they built it and we came. Many of us look forward to coming again.