- February 23, 2025
Dancer Judith Aisha Cornell performs an interpretation of Miriam, the Jewish matriarch, at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Air Force Junior ROT--(left to right) Erik Farkas, Color Guard Commander Benjamin Gilliard, Scott Wright and Bao Nguyen color guard retire the colors at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey and Mayor Bill Partington attend the Jewish Heritage Festival held at The Casements and Rockefeller Gardens. Photo by Michele Meyers
Robert Mendez blows the Shofar on the Jerusalem stage at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Chris Jessup plays the biblical character Moses at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Chris "Moses" Jessup (left) and Robert Mendez (right) joke around at the Jewish Heritage Festival on the Jeruselum Stage at Rockefeller Gardens. Photo by Michele Meyers
Dancer, Judith Aisha Cornell, teaches 10-year-old Ormond Beach resident Marshall Kohen-McNally (right) a few dance moves at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Susan Taylor (right) joins the biblical character Aaron played by Michael LeRoy (left) at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Once again, biblical characters Moses and Aaron meet at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Moses is played by Chris Jessup and Aaron is played by Michael LeRoy. Photo by Michele Meyers
Dancer Judith Aisha Cornell and Rabbi Rob Lennick at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Dancer Judith Aisha Cornell has performed at all of the Jewish Heritage Festivals in Ormond Beach since the first one in 2008. Photo by Michele Meyers
Robyn and Avi Solomon attend the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival at The Casements and Rockefeller Gardens. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Barber's pose at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival following Steve Barber's (right) speech about "The Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean." Photo by Michele Meyers
Mrs. Florida International Simona Lazinsk stopped by the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival to check it out. Photo by Michele Meyers
A dance party breaks out to show honor and support for soldiers and hostages in Israel and Gaza at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
A dance party breaks out to show honor and support for soldiers and hostages in Israel and Gaza at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mrs. Florida International Simona Lazinsk (left) and husband Jack Lazinsk talk to Sandy Cook at the Halifax Repertory Theatre table at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jack Lazinsk (right) talks to Sandy Cook, the Executive Director of the Halifax Repertory Theatre, at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jewish Heritage Festival attendees peruse the Jewish Hall of Fame exhibit where some of Israel's accomplishments are highlighted. Photo by Michele Meyers
Festival goers line up at Oliv Epicurean Grill at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
People line up in droves at a variety of food trucks selling delectables at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
WRJ (Women of Reform Judaism) Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El members (from left to right) Rita Lincoln, President Adrienne Grossman, Roslyn Rogers and Briana Lande. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Combined Religious Schools Children's Choir performed for the crowd at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Led by Barbara Steinberg and Suzanne Furman, the Combined Religious Schools Children's Choir performed for the crowd at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Strong founder Debbie Kruck-Forrester stands with blue and white flowers that each have a name of a hostage taken during the Israel-Hamas war. She created a "Bring them Home" exhibit to raise awareness and support for the hostages. Photo by Michele Meyers
The three "mensches": Marvin Miller, President of the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Rabbi Rob Lennick, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood addresses the crowd with Marvin Miller (left) and Rabbi Rob Lennick (right) at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rabbi Asher Farkash (right) helps a very serious group of "bakers" make handmade Matzah at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rigden Ranch owner Shayne Rigden leads his camel Newton as he gives two young riders a lift at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Violet Hamm (left) and London Jenerette (center) get a ride from Newton the camel as Shayne Rigden (right) leads him at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rigden Ranch owner Shayne Rigden (right) leads his camel Newton as he gives London Jenerette (left) and Violet Hamm (center) a ride at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Holocaust survivor Bea Schemer speaks at the Jewish Heritage Festival about the rise of Nazism in Germany and her family's escape. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jewish Heritage Festival visitors view the information presented in the Holocaust exhibit setup in The Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Photojournalist Karen Sandvick stands with her "Life in the Shtetl" exhibition in The Casements at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Dancer Judith Aisha Cornell convinces 12-year-old Keira Hollan and 10-year-old Aeralee Smith to dance with her at the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jewish Heritage Festival Chair Jeffrey Bigman (center) walks down a crowded vendor corridor during the event. He expects approximately 10,000 people throughout the day. Photo by Michele Meyers
Master of ceremonies Rabbi Rob Lennick stood on the Jerusalem Stage in Rockefeller Gardens and welcomed everyone to the eighth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival on Sunday, April 7.
In 2007, Murray Steinberg and his wife, Dr. Barbara Steinberg, went to a Jewish festival in Richmond, Virginia, and one in Melbourne, Florida. During his tenure as president of Temple Israel in 2006 and 2007, he formed a group named the Council of Temple Presidents with all of the synagogues in Volusia and Flagler Counties. He presented the idea of having a Jewish festival in the area and the members liked the idea.
“We decided it would instill a sense of pride in all of our children and families and bring us all together,” he said. “That was the miracle. We didn’t think we could get all of the synagogues together in one place and at one time. There were certain ones that wouldn’t go to ‘that synagogue’ or with ‘those people.’ It brought us all together.”
Ormond Beach resident and local trial attorney Jeff Bigman, is the current chair and has held the position since 2008 when it was started. The president of Temple Beth-El, at the time, asked him to attend the first official festival meeting.
Following the meeting, he began to do research about festivals held nationwide. He discovered Chicago had a large Jewish festival and it was spearheaded by a lawyer.
Bigman was able to order the paperwork used for that festival.
“My son and I went to the Atlanta Jewish Festival then I talked with the organizers of the Boulder Jewish Festival,” he said. “I came up with an action plan, not intending to lead this thing. I sent Murray all my notes because I couldn’t make the next meeting and Murray said, ‘No, no, no. You have to make the next meeting.’ Then, they put me in charge.”
Bigman said it takes a massive amount of people to engineer a successful festival. A group of 30-40 people consisting of board members and subcommittees plan it a year in advance. The week of the event, there are approximately 160 volunteers between the Friday night setup and the Sunday breakdown following the festival.
“As long as you have enough people pulling on the oars, you can pull it off,” Bigman said. “And we have been very blessed with great weather. As a kid, I used to call this Jewish holiday weather because it would never rain on Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur.”
This year’s celebration was held as the Israel-Hamas war continues. According to the event schedule, this year’s festival was dedicated to all hostages around the world.
Bigman said that, even with the addition of the war and worldwide antisemitism, the festival brings all aspects of Judaism together in one place — under one tent.
“Whether you are Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative or Orthodox, we are all here together and we’re one people,” he said. “That to me is the most important message that we can send. Hamas thinks of us as one people — they have a different goal in mind for us but, at the same time, we need to think of ourselves as one people.”
Young and old alike came together for a day to celebrate the Jewish heritage while honoring those affected by the war. Bigman said there was something for everyone at the festival, for thoe 2 years old to 98 years old. Biblical characters roamed between Rockefeller Gardens and The Casements while kids tried their hands at making matzah bread, taking a jump in a bounce house or riding a very friendly camel named Newton.
Shayne Rigden, owner of Rigden Ranch, was leading Newton as he gave festival goers rides on his back. They drove from Franskville, Wisconsin, to participate.
“We normally don’t drive an hour or two past home, but we’ve been doing this gig for a very long time,” he said. “The festival is one of the things we kept on doing. It’s a very nice event.”
Speakers and exhibits were also available throughout the day. Holocaust survivors Bea Schemer and Suzanne Schneider talked about the rise of Nazism and their experiences. People could also view The Holocaust exhibit, the Jewish Hall of Fame —highlighting accomplishments of Israel — and the “Life in the Shtetl” photography exhibition by photojournalist Karen Sandvick.
Debbie Kruck-Forrester, founder of Ormond Strong, created a display with the names and photographs of the hostages taken during the Israel-Hamas war. She offered blue and white roses with their names attached to those that stopped by the “Bring Them Home” exhibit.
“We did this because we were angry and we can’t go over there and fight,” she said. “It took a long time to put together. It connects everyone with the people. We came up with putting their names with a rose so the people (hostages) are not just seen as a name on a board. People that stop by and get a rose can take them home and look up that person. They will be connected to that person. I felt connected just by doing this.”
