- April 13, 2026
Judith Aisha Cornell dances as Jewish matriarch Miriam on the stage at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, Marvin Miller, Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey and Rabbi Rob Lennick address the crowd. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Rabbi Rob Lennick, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, speaks during the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Rabbi Rob Lennick, Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Marvin Miller at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Rabbi Rob Lennick and Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie during the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Biblical figures circulated the festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Duckie Ronald, Sandy Allen and Holly Soucy represented Charlene’s Dream, a community cancer support center. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Biblical figures circulated the Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Food vendors were available to feed visitors during the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
The festival’s signature camel rides at the Jewish Heritage Festival at The Casements. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Ormond Beach residents Nancy, 9, Ella, 2, and mom Danielle, enjoy a camel ride at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
The Jewish Heritage festival featured camel rides for attendees. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Children enjoyed a balloon artist at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Erin Taylor, owner of Ormond Bee Company, helps a customer as Melissa Kane looks on during the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
James Legget (left), owner of Side of the Road, serves customers, including Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie (right). Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Vendors lined the sidewalk of the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Visitors await the entertainment during the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Rabbi Rob Lennick warmed up the crowd with jokes during the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Judith Aisha Cornell dances as Jewish matriarch Miriam on the stage at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Judith Aisha Cornell dances as Jewish matriarch Miriam on the stage at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Judith Aisha Cornell dances as Jewish matriarch Miriam on the stage at the Jewish Heritage Festival. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
The Jewish Heritage Festival returned to The Casements in Ormond Beach on Sunday, April 12, drawing visitors for a daylong celebration of Jewish culture and community.
The free biennial festival, held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featured Jewish music and dance performances, along with kosher, deli-style and Mediterranean food. Visitors browsed arts and crafts vendors, along with Judaica artists and vendors.
Festival exhibits included a Holocaust Memorial, the Jewish Hall of Fame and booths hosted by Jewish organizations. Halifax Health offered information about health and wellness along the festival’s Tikkun Olam Boulevard. Tikkun Olam is a central pillar of Judaism and refers to the sacred mission to “repair the world.”
Children’s activities were offered throughout the day, including inflatables, face painting, a balloon artist and the festival’s signature camel rides.
The event opened with remarks from local dignitaries who jokingly referred to themselves as “The Four Mensches”: Rabbi Rob Lennick, Marvin Miller, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey.
Lennick, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, said the annual festival is designed to welcome the entire community.
“It’s just a wonderful opportunity for the Jewish community to open its arms and its hearts to everybody just to share the beauty of our culture,” Lennick said.
Chitwood condemned antisemitism and pledged that such acts would not be tolerated in Volusia County.
“Antisemitism attacks that are going on around the world will never ever happen here in Volusia County,” Chitwood said.
Referring to the large police presence that joined him for the day, he added that the festival grounds were “the safest place to be right now.”
Throughout the afternoon, visitors could meet Moses, Miriam and other biblical figures, who circulated through the crowd.
