Kantigas i Enkontros.The Golden Melodies of Sepharad.A Sephardic Heritage Fundraising Concert with Ladino Singer: Elysheva Ramirez -BorikenSpharad Ladino Music Project

Kantigas i Enkontros: The Golden Melodies of Sepharad

A Sephardic Heritage Fundraising Concert

Join Congregation Zohar Yisrael for an unforgettable evening celebrating the beauty, resilience, and enduring spirit of Sephardic Jewish heritage through music, history, and memory.

Kantigas i Enkontros: The Golden Melodies of Sepharad invites guests on a musical journey through the rich cultural landscape of Sephardic Jewry. Through the beautiful sounds of Ladino song, Jewish liturgy, poetic texts, and visual storytelling, this special fundraising concert explores the voices of generations who carried their traditions across continents while preserving the language, faith, and memories of medieval Sepharad.

Featuring Featured Ladino Singer Elysheva Arleen Ramirez, founder of the BorikenSpharad Ladino Music Project, and Featured Puerto Rican Cuatrista Quique Domenech, this unique presentation weaves together Jewish liturgical traditions, poetic ballads, artistic imagery, and historical narratives to reveal the deep connections of an ancestral lineage—a sacred font of engraved memory that continues to resonate through the Sephardic experience today.

The expressive voice of Featured Ladino Singer Elysheva Arleen Ramirez, together with the masterful artistry of Featured Puerto Rican Cuatrista Quique Domenech, creates a rich musical dialogue that beautifully bridges the timeless melodies of Sepharad with the vibrant traditions of Puerto Rico. As melodies once sung in the homes, courtyards, and synagogues of Sephardic communities come alive once again, attendees will experience an evening that is both educational and inspiring, honoring the legacy of our ancestors while helping support the future growth and vitality of our congregation.

About the Featured ArtistsFeatured Ladino SingerElysheva Arleen Ramirez

Born in Puerto Rico and deeply connected to her Sephardic heritage, Featured Ladino Singer Elysheva Arleen Ramirez is an internationally recognized performer, educator, and researcher. She is the founder of the BorikenSpharad Ladino Music Project, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to preserving and sharing Sephardic musical traditions.

Elysheva has established herself as the only Caribbean Sephardic/Ladino singer and researcher and the only Puerto Rican scholar working in this field. She has performed throughout the United States, Spain, and Israel, collaborating with musicians from Puerto Rico, Israel, Spain, Venezuela, Argentina, and the United States. Her work bridges scholarship, artistry, and cultural preservation, bringing the voices of Sepharad to new generations around the world.

Featured Puerto Rican CuatristaQuique Domenech

Joining this special concert is Featured Puerto Rican Cuatrista Quique Domenech, a Two-Time Latin Grammy-Nominated composer, producer, and one of the foremost ambassadors of Puerto Rico's national instrument, the cuatro.

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Domenech began studying music at the age of six and later completed intensive training at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. Throughout a prolific career spanning dozens of recordings, he has masterfully blended traditional Puerto Rican folk music with contemporary genres while remaining deeply rooted in the island's rich musical heritage.

He is a core member of the acclaimed ensemble Sonido Tré, founder of QD Music, and has collaborated with internationally celebrated artists including Tony Croatto, Danny Rivera, and David Foster. His innovative musicianship and dedication to preserving Puerto Rico's musical traditions have earned him international acclaim and two Latin Grammy Award nominations.

His artistry on the Puerto Rican cuatro adds a distinctive and captivating dimension to Kantigas i Enkontros, complementing the timeless melodies of Ladino song and creating a beautiful musical conversation between two enduring cultural traditions.

Event Purpose

This special fundraising concert has been organized to support Congregation Zohar Yisrael's vision of establishing a permanent synagogue home for our growing community.

Over the past several years, our congregation has experienced remarkable growth as more Jewish families have sought a welcoming place to daven, learn, celebrate, and connect with their heritage. While we are grateful for our current leased space, our long-term goal is to secure a permanent building that will serve as a lasting center for Jewish life, Torah learning, Sephardic tradition, community programs, youth education, and future generations.

The story of Sephardic Jewry is one of resilience, continuity, and the preservation of sacred traditions across centuries and continents. In that same spirit, this evening is more than a concert—it is an opportunity to help build a permanent home where those traditions can continue to flourish.

All proceeds from Kantigas i Enkontros: The Golden Melodies of Sepharad will directly support Congregation Zohar Yisrael's Building Fund, helping us take meaningful steps toward purchasing a permanent synagogue facility that will strengthen Jewish life throughout our community for generations to come.

By attending this event, you are not only helping preserve the treasured melodies and heritage of Sepharad—you are helping build the future of Sephardic Jewish life in our region.