the last 20 living hostages<\/a>, allowing a moment of relief in the midst of uncertainty.<\/p>\nThe inspiration for the dance aspect came from the location of the Oct. 7 attacks, the Nova Music Festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dance party is symbolic, we grew this saying, ‘We will dance again,’\u201d Morchelies said. \u201cSo now this is our time to dance.\u201d<\/p>\n
The opening ceremony featured speakers from several Jewish campus organizations, students who had served in Israel, rabbis and U.S. Rep. Randy Fine. Each offered a personal perspective on the conflict and reflected on what the recent news meant to them.<\/p>\n
Fine spoke about being the only Jewish republican in the Florida legislature and his policies to oppose terrorism and antisemitism. Fine also claimed he contributed to making Florida one of the safest places to be Jewish, with the audience erupting in applause.<\/p>\n
All of the speakers shared a common theme: Oct. 7 was one of the most pivotal moments in their lives and changed the way they view their Jewish identity.<\/p>\n
Daniel Kaprow, senior event management major and Hillel president, took the audience through his experience, describing how it started like any other day, until he checked his phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the single worst day since the Holocaust for the Jewish people,\u201d Kaprow said.<\/p>\n
Now, 738 days later, Kaprow describes the past week as \u201ca way to find hope after a period of collective trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Jeff Levin, director of Jewish Student Experiences, emphasized that the event balanced both remembrance and celebration, acknowledging the mixed emotions everyone in the community currently shares.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoy is more joyful when it\u2019s juxtaposed against the bad,\u201d Levin said.<\/p>\n
Students dug into the array of food laid out, including falafel and Bamba, a puffy peanut butter-flavored snack. Under the string lights of Northview\u2019s rooftop, the dance stood as a statement for many attendees.<\/p>\n
\u201c’We will dance again’ is something we\u2019ve said for a long time,\u201d Levin said. \u201cAnd now we finally are.\u201d<\/p>\n