- December 5, 2025
Rita Gallin jokes around with Moses (Chris Jessup) at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Festival president Jeffrey Bigman (second from left), pose with fellow opening ceremony participants, festival volunteers and organizers. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mistress of Ceremonies Cantor Nina Fine sang the United States and Israel national anthems during the opening ceremonies for the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
AFJROTC Cadet Major Allen waits with the Mainland High School color guard prior to presenting the colors at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
One of two Shofar blowers, Murray Steinberg (left), waits to take the Jerusalem Stage that was dedicated to musician Lynn Goldovitz. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland AFJROTC color guard presents the colors at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Debbie Kruck-Forrester-Ormond Strong, Marvin Miller-President of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, Sheriff Michael Chitwood. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rabbi S. David Kane leads everyone in the Gratitude Prayer at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey. Photo by Michele Meyers
Shofar blower Roberto Mendez. Photo by Michele Meyers
Debbie Kruck-Forrester, Ormond Strong. Photo by Michele Meyers
"Miriam" Judith Cornell/Aisha Shimmy Girl performs at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
"Miriam" Judith Cornell/Aisha Shimmy Girl performs at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kids enjoy the bounce houses provided by Florida Bounce Party at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Alex Webb sold his first framed artwork to Dean Smith at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gili's Kitchen of Jacksonville serves fresh, Kosher food to the line of festival goers. Photo by Michele Meyers
7th graders-Esther Manuele, Jade Benchetrit and Leah Ezagui, sold drinks at the festival to raise money for a trip to Universal Orlando. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gratitude was the theme of the Jewish Heritage Festival. Participants wrote what they were grateful for on a post it note and then received a cup of homemade chicken Matza ball soup. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rabbi Levi Ezagui runs the Chabad Jewish Center in Palm Coast. He offered homemade chicken Matzahball soup for those that wrote down what they were thankful for on a post-it note. Photo by Michele Meyers
Israel Akbosh gave out stocks of wheat during the Matzah Bakery Workshop. Photo by Michele Meyers
Elliot Tplitsky gets a little help making his Matzah during the Matzah Bakery Workshop. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jesiah Howard rolls out his dough during the Matzah Bakery Workshop at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rabbi Asher Farkash has been teaching the Matzah Bakery Workshop for four years. Photo by Michele Meyers
Elliot Tplitsky andJesiah Howard press their Matzah dough out during the Matzah Bakery Workshop. Photo by Michele Meyers
Camel rider Kay Stanton. Photo by Michele Meyers
Peanut, the six year old camel, gives Kay Stanton her second ever ride on a camel. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gordon Nichols pets the bunnies at the Noah's Landing petting zoo during the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Abe Schlaffer sports a balloon hat while eating his Schmancy popsicle. Photo by Michele Meyers
August Schlaffer models his freshly painted skull face. Photo by Michele Meyers
My Homeys Gourmet Hamantaschen. Photo by Michele Meyers
Owner of My Homeys, Sharon Goldish (left) and Charlotte Miller, fill orders for homemade Hamantaschen. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ron Roberts gets a dance lesson from "Miriam" Judith Cornell/Aisha Shimmy Girl. Photo by Michele Meyers
The biennial Jewish Heritage Festival returned to the Casements after being canceled in 2020. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matzah making, Moses and Biblical friends meandering amidst the festivities and a 6-year old camel named Peanut giving rides to the crowd, were a sampling of the cultural experiences offered at the Jewish Heritage Festival on Sunday, March 27 at The Casements.
The inaugural festival was held in March 2008 with approximately 10,000 people in attendance. It became a biennial event with 2020 being postponed due to COVID-19. This year’s festival was dedicated to three individuals who were involved extensively in the Jewish community and died during the event’s hiatus—Lynn Goldovitz, Gloria Max and Marta Heller.
Rabbi S. David Kane led everyone in a prayer of gratitude—a reflection of the festival’s theme.
“Holy Creator, thank you for today,” he said. “Thank you for the ability to join together to honor the heritage of Judaism and American Judaism.”
Festival president Jeffrey Bigman brought Shofar blowers Murray Steinberg and Roberto Mendez to the Jerusalem stage to kick off the celebration. A Shofar is a musical instrument traditionally made from a ram’s horn and used for religious or significant Jewish occasions. Mendez used to play trombone with a Latin salsa band in Puerto Rico which made it easy for him to transition to the Shofar.
“When you hear the Shofar being blasted, it’s God’s voice,” he said. “My ancestors are Sephardic Jews from Spain. They came from Israel so when I saw the Shofar, I knew God led me to it.”
“We are teaching the children the traditions. The kids get to experience the heritage. They get to experience the Judaism. It’s not just something of the past but something of the present. By giving our children a positive experience with their religion, it helps them and encourages them to pass it on to their children. It’s all about education.”
Rabbi Asher Farkash, Chabad of Greater Daytona program director
Contemporary and traditional Jewish music played throughout the day as revelers enjoyed the tastes of Kosher, Israeli and Jewish food. People were lined up at My Homeys’ tent where they could purchase gourmet hamantaschen — a folded, triangular shaped cookies, traditionally filled with fruit. Owner Sharon Goldish started the business about five years ago following a career as a surgeon. She noticed how cupcakes had evolved to include a wide array of flavors and decided to experiment with her cookies.
“I spent a year in my kitchen,” she said. “I took classes, experimented with recipes and came up with about 20 different flavors — different combinations of doughs and fillings. Then I launched the business.”
Kids also got a chance to have fun in the kitchen at the festival. Rabbi Asher Farkash, the program director at the Chabad of greater Daytona, led the children’s Matzah Bakery Workshop for two sessions during which he taught them how to make matzah.
“We are teaching the children the traditions,” he said. “Giving them the love of the holiday, the love of the festivals, a love for Judaism. It is a beautiful thing. The kids get to experience the heritage. They get to experience the Judaism. It’s not just something of the past but something of the present. By giving our children a positive experience with their religion, it helps them and encourages them to pass it on to their children. It’s all about education.”
