‘We will dance again’ on Nov. 21
'This is a night for the Jewish community to celebrate resilience, and connection, and music — and just being together — and the kind of joy that comes from having a Jewish community'
Turns out, there will be tears on the dance floor. With kosher appetizers in hand, and an open bar nearby, community members will gather on Nov. 21 inside the Distillery Complex on the city’s South Side for “We Will Dance Again.” The Saturday evening event, hosted by the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, will feature remarks from DJ Omri Sasi as a build-up to pulsating beats, thrilling drops and euphoric dancing.
Before his hypnotic set, Sasi, an Israeli producer and co-founder of the Nova music festival, will describe his experience as a survivor of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.
Once Sasi’s remarks are complete, however, “we’re just going to dance the night away,” organizers told the Chronicle.
“This is a night for the Jewish community to celebrate resilience, and connection, and music — and just being together — and the kind of joy that comes from having a Jewish community,” Hannah Zusmanowitz, young adult programming associate at the Federation, said.
More than a year ago, Zusmanowitz, 25, was approached by Squirrel Hill resident Gabriella Boyiadzis, 26, about the possibility of hosting a party encapsulating the message of “We will dance again,” a saying that in the aftermath of Oct. 7 became a rallying cry for resilience.
Boyiadzis desired not only an event reflecting the mantra, but a program whose tone matched her communal experiences, she explained.
Following the Oct. 7 attack, Boyiadzis attended weekly vigils on the corner of Darlington Road and Murray Avenue. The Sunday programs, which called attention to the plight of 251 people abducted by terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, and taken into Gaza, attracted scores of Pittsburghers from diverse backgrounds.
Recalling her feelings about attending the Squirrel Hill-based vigils, Boyiadzis said, “I didn’t know how much a sense of community was important until I was standing there, and we were going through such a hard time as a community, but we were going through it together.”
When the last of the living hostages, and remains of the deceased captives, were finally returned to Israel, the vigils ceased.
Boyiadzis said she remembered feeling grateful. “I was like, ‘OK, now everything is quieted down. I want us to come together again and celebrate as a community — as the entire community of Pittsburgh.’”
Boyiadzis reached out to Zusmanowitz.
“At first, I said, ‘What exactly does that entail? What exactly do you want to happen?’” Zusmanowitz remembered asking.
Suggestions ranged from creating a party celebrating Jewish joy to hosting a not-quite rager mirroring the “vibes of an Israeli wedding without the wedding,” she said.
Zusmanowitz listened and realized what was needed.
“I was like, absolutely, I’m gonna make this my mission,” she said.
More than a year later, with the electronically fused merry din soon to start, the Jewish professional wants people present and ready to party, regardless of faith, age or background.
“Everybody that wants to come and dance should be able to come and dance, and everyone that wants to come and join and not dance can also do that,” she said.
“I don’t want any barriers of entry for anyone to come,” she continued. “It is an event for the community.”
Shortly after the event’s 7 p.m. start, Sasi will speak.
After telling his story, which is a “really important declaration that we’re still here, we’re still dancing,” Zusmanowitz said, the DJ will perform.
Collectively, it’s going to be a night where “you’re going to see all facets of the community come together,” she said.
More sample than remix, the party is reminiscent of “Tikkun Leil Shavuot, where you see everybody come out,” she continued. “That’s kind of what we want it to be: a real reflection and representation of the Pittsburgh Jewish community.”
Tickets to “We Will Dance Again” are $15 per person. Registration is available at
jewishpgh.org/event/we-will-dance-again. PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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