Alex Dancyg

{{infobox person

| name = Alex Dancyg

| image = Alex Dancyg 2018.png

| alt =

| caption = Dancyg in 2018

| native_name = אלכס דנציג

| native_name_lang = he

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1948|7|21}}

| birth_place = Warsaw, Poland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|3|9|1948|7|21|df=y}}

| death_place = Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip

| nationality = Israeli

| awards = {{Plain list|

}}

Alexander Dancyg ({{langx|he|אלכס דנציג}}; 21 July 1948 – 9 March 2024) was a Polish-born Israeli historian, Yad Vashem Institute contributor, farmer and an active advocate of Polish-Jewish dialogue. Dancyg was a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz and was kidnapped by Hamas militants, taken to the Gaza Strip during the Nir Oz attack and later killed in captivity during the Siege of Khan Yunis.

Biography

Dancyg was born in Warsaw, Poland on 21 July 1948,{{cite book |title=Alex Dancyg: Historie z Bramy |url=https://biblioteka.teatrnn.pl/Content/49067/Dancyg_calosc.pdf |year=2014 |location=Lublin |publisher=Ośrodek „Brama Grodzka – Teatr NN” |isbn=978-83-61064-57-2 |author1=Tomasz Czajkowski |author2=Karolina Kryczka |author3=Joanna Zętar |author4=Magdalena Kożuch |author5=Piotr Krotofil |editor1=Janka Kowalska |editor2=Krzysztof Gajowiak}} to parents who were survivors of the Holocaust. He was born in Warsaw as the second child of Nina (Nycha) and Marcin (Mordechai) Dancyg. His father was a lawyer by profession, while his mother was a historian. His parents came from Warsaw, and spent the German occupation of World War II in the so-called Eastern Borderlands hiding under a false name: Danecki. Most of his father's family perished during the Holocaust.{{cite web |url = https://gazetalubuska.pl/alex-dancyg-jestem-zydem-i-polakiem/ar/7966694 |title= Alex Dancyg: – Jestem Żydem i Polakiem |website= gazetalubuska.pl |date= 23 June 2013 |access-date = 24 October 2023 |language=pl}} His father, Marcin Dancyg, was a Stalinist military judge in Polish People's Republic.{{cite journal |title=Pozorna próba "destalinizacji" warszawskiej adwokatury w 1956 r., cz. 1 – analiza: Otwarte zebranie Podstawowej Organizacji Partyjnej PZPR przy Izbie Adwokackiej w Warszawie 26 i 30 października 1956 r. |journal=Voice of Law |publisher=Allerhand Law Review |year=2021 |volume=4 |issue=1 |issn=2657-800X |first=Marcin |last=Zaborski |language=pl}}

In 1957, he and his family immigrated to Israel,{{Cite news |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=22 July 2024 |title=IDF announces deaths of hostages Alex Dancyg and Yagev Buchshtav in Hamas captivity |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-announces-deaths-of-hostages-alex-dancyg-and-yagev-buchshtav-in-hamas-captivity/ |work=The Times of Israel}} where he joined the Labor Zionist youth organisation Hashomer Hatzair, served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including during several wars, and obtained a degree in history. He started a family on Kibbutz Nir-Oz, raising three children. In 1986, Dancyg returned to Poland for the first time in three decades and visited the Auschwitz death camp, which fuelled his interest in Holocaust education and the complicated Polish–Jewish relations of the post-Communist period.{{Cite web |title=Alex Dancyg (b. 1948) - Lexicon - NN Theatre |url=https://teatrnn.pl/lexicon/articles/alex-dancyg-1948/ |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=teatrnn.pl |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Greenall |first=Robert |date=18 October 2023 |title=Alex Danzig: Fears grow for much-loved historian kidnapped by Hamas |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67135168 |access-date=27 November 2023 |work=BBC |language=en-GB}}

In 1990, he started working with Yad Vashem, preparing tour guides chosen to accompany Israeli groups on their visits to Poland. His work at Yad Vashem also included lecturing and meeting educators and students from Poland and Israel.{{Cite web |last=Margaliot |first=Orit |date=30 October 2023 |title=My friend Alex Danycg, 75, is held hostage in Gaza |url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-770737 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} Dancyg led a program for 120 Israeli and Polish schools to meet together during Israeli school trips to Poland.{{Cite web |author= |date=22 October 2023 |title=Taken captive: Alex Dancyg, murals painted for Holocaust educator |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/taken-captive-alex-dancyg-warsaw-murals-painted-for-holocaust-educator/ |access-date=2 December 2023 |website=Times of Israel}} He was a long-standing associate of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Institute. Since 1990 he ran courses for guides taking care of groups of Israelis visiting Poland. He was also an associate of the Grodzka Gate – NN Theatre.{{cite web |url = https://teatrnn.pl/leksykon/artykuly/alex-dancyg-ur-1948/ |title= Alex Dancyg (ur. 1948) |website= teatrnn.pl |access-date = 15 October 2023 |language=pl}}

Abduction by Hamas

File:Alex Dancyg (szablon 3fala, Warszawa).jpg as part of the "StandWithAlex" campaign]]

On 7 October 2023, at the start of the Gaza war, Dancyg was kidnapped by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir-Oz. His son, Mati Dancyg, said Alex Dancyg's last communication was a text he sent to his other son, Yuval Dancyg, at approximately 8:30 am that morning, in which Dancyg told them about the situation in the kibbutz.{{Cite web |last=Dillon |first=Kassy |date=26 October 2023 |title='We have no time': Elderly Holocaust educator kidnapped by Hamas needs critical medication, son says |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/no-time-elderly-holocaust-educator-kidnapped-hamas-needs-critical-medication-son-says |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} Dancyg's son and grandchildren survived the attack by hiding in their own shelter. His ex-wife also survived, by holding her missile proof shelter door shut for seven hours, protecting her and her three grandchildren.

At the end of November 2023, one of the released hostages confirmed that Dancyg was alive. He was said to be regularly given medication and to be in good health. The released hostage also stated that Dancyg was giving history lectures to fellow hostages.{{cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/swiat/artykuly/9365847,zwolniona-zakladniczka-przekazala-wiesc-alex-dancyg-zyje.html |title=Zwolniona zakładniczka przekazała wieść: Alex Dancyg żyje |language=pl |website=dziennik.pl |first=Bartosz |last=Lewicki |date=28 November 2023}}

Murals with the hashtag "StandWithAlex" were painted in Warsaw as part of a campaign to build pressure for his release.{{Cite web |last=Paciorek |first=Magdalena |date=26 October 2023 |title=Poles campaign for return of Holocaust educator, 75, taken hostage by Hamas |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/poles-campaign-for-return-of-holocaust-educator-75-taken-hostage-by-hamas/ |website=Times of Israel}}

= Reports of death =

On 10 March 2024, reports of Danzig's death were shared by Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas; however, his death was not confirmed by Israeli forces or by his family.{{cite web |date=10 March 2024 |title=Hamas: Nie żyje polski historyk uprowadzony w Strefie Gazy |url=https://www.tvp.info/76367428/nie-zyje-polski-historyk-alex-dancyg-uprowadzony-w-strefie-gazy |website=tvp.info |language=pl}}{{cite web |url=https://www.polsatnews.pl/wiadomosc/2024-03-10/nieoficjalnie-alex-dancyg-nie-zyje-byl-uprowadzony-przez-hamas/?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral |title=Media: Alex Dancyg nie żyje, uprowadzony przez Hamas polsko-izraelski historyk |website=polsatnews.pl |language=pl |date=10 March 2024}} His son said in an interview with TVN that he did not believe the news of his father's death because he "does not believe a single word Hamas says." He also added: "Until recently, I imagined every day that when he regained his freedom I would hug him tightly. I don't do that anymore. I can't. I know that if he is alive, his condition may be grave. He may not be able to walk on his own". The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement that it was unable to confirm the claims of Dancyg's death at the time.{{cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/hamas-twierdzi-ze-alex-dancyg-nie-zyje-rodzina-wydala-oswiadczenie/sj4em48 |title=Hamas twierdzi, że nie żyje Polak uprowadzony z Izraela. Rodzina wydała oświadczenie. Sprawę bada też MSZ |date=11 March 2024 |language=pl |website=onet.pl}}

On 22 July 2024, the IDF reported that Dancyg had been killed earlier in the year while being held by Hamas.{{cite web |url=https://orf.at/stories/3364330/ |title=Zwei israelische Geiseln für tot erklärt |date=22 July 2024 |language=de |website=orf.at }}{{Cite web |date=22 July 2024 |title=Hostages Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtab confirmed dead, IDF likely at fault |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-811356 |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}} After the announcement, The Jerusalem Post reported that it was "likely" they had been "mistakenly killed by IDF forces during battles in Khan Yunis some months ago".{{Cite web |last=Bob |first=Yonah Jeremy |date=2024-07-22 |title=Hostages Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtab confirmed dead, IDF likely at fault |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-811356 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}} IDF confirmed that Dancyg died during the Siege of Khan Yunis, giving credibility to the announcement of Dancyg's death from Hamas on 9 March 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1yyxdh3c |title=Autopsy confirms hostage Yagev Buchshtav was executed as IDF neared tunnel |date=9 April 2024 |first=Hadar |last=Gil-Ad |website=Ynet}}

= Recovery of body =

On 20 August 2024 the bodies of Dancyg and fellow hostages Yoram Metzger, Chaim Peri, Avraham Munder (also from Nir Oz), Yagev Buchshtav and Nadav Popplewell (from kibbutz Nirim) were recovered from a tunnel in Khan Younis.{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=20 August 2024 |title=IDF recovers bodies of 6 hostages from Gaza, including one hitherto presumed alive |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-recovers-bodies-of-6-hostages-from-gaza-including-one-previously-presumed-alive/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}} On 22 August, Israel announced that bullet wounds had been found in the bodies of all six hostages, claiming that they had been probably shot by their guards to prevent a rescue during fighting in Khan Younis earlier in the year.{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emmanuel |last2= |first2= |title=Bullet wounds in bodies of all 6 hostages from Gaza suggest they were killed by captors |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/autopsies-find-bullet-wounds-in-bodies-of-all-6-hostages-recovered-from-gaza-in-raid/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}

Political views

Dancyg described himself as a socialist.{{cite web |url=https://wiez.pl/2023/11/16/ideowy-kibucnik-ktory-czyta-mickiewicza-na-pustyni-alex-dancyg-porwany-przez-hamas/ |title=Ideowy kibucnik, który czyta Mickiewicza na pustyni. Alex Dancyg porwany przez Hamas |date=16 November 2023 |first=Wiesław |last=Dawidowski |language=pl |website=wiez.pl}} He was a staunch supporter of kibbutzim, which he regarded as an example of successful socialist communities. Remarking on his life in kibbutzes, Dancyg said: "I can live a peaceful, good, normal life without any stress. I have everything I need and my children also have everything they need, because the kibbutz is a rich society and can share equally for everyone, not equally to the centimetre, because that's not the point."{{cite web |url=https://konin.naszemiasto.pl/alex-dancyg-w-koninie-socjalizm-moze-sie-udac-tylko-gdy/ar/c13-9027703 |title=Alex Dancyg w Koninie: Socjalizm może się udać tylko, gdy społeczeństwo jest bogate. Odkrywcze spotkanie w "Górniczej" |first=Marcin |last=Maliński |language=pl |website=naszemiasto.pl |date=5 October 2022}}

Described as an "idealistic kibbutznik and a flesh-and-blood socialist", Dancyg was an opponent of nationalism, and was known for his sharp critique of the Israeli right as well as Polish anti-Jewish phobias. Dancyg also participated in debates on religion, describing it as "a mystery that we cannot solve when we talk about the origin of the world and man."{{cite web |title=Alex Dancyg o wojnie, socjalizmie i życiu w kibucu |url=https://www.konin.pl/index.php/jeden-news-1432/alex-dancyg-o-wojnie-socjalizmie-i-zyciu-w-kibucu.html |date=7 October 2022 |website=konin.pl |language=pl}} Dancyg had respect for the Catholic Church, and was a close friend of Polish priest and theologian Alfred Wierzbicki. When discussing religion, he was said to provocatively joke: "You, such an intelligent guy, and you haven't become a Jew yet!"

Depiction in media

In 1999, a biographical documentary film devoted to Alex Dancyg was made, titled Reading Sienkiewicz in the Negev Desert. Directed by Krzysztof Bukowski, it received the "Bronze Hobby-Horse" Special Award at the National Short Film Festival in Kraków in 2000.{{cite web |title=Czytając Sienkiewicza na pustyni Negev |url=https://filmpolski.pl/fp/index.php?film=4212526 |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=filmpolski.pl |language=pl}}

A Polish Radio reportage devoted to him, by Marta Rebzda, entitled Double Identity, was published in 2012.{{cite web |url = https://trojka.polskieradio.pl/artykul/518094 |title= "Podwójna tożsamość" – Marta Rebzda |website= trojka.polskieradio.pl |access-date= 15 October 2023 |language=pl}}

In 2014, the Grodzka Gate - NN Theatre Centre published the second volume in the series Tales from the Gate entitled Dancyg (Lublin, ISBN 978-83-61064-57-2) containing a transcript of interviews with Alex Dancyg recorded as part of the Oral History Programme.{{cite web |title=Alex Dancyg. Historie z Bramy. T. 2 |url=https://teatrnn.pl/wydawnictwo/dancyg-alex-historie-z-bramy-t-2/ |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=teatrnn.pl |language=pl}}

Awards and honors

In 2013, the Chapter of the Polcul Foundation awarded him the Eudoxja Rakowska Prize for "his long-standing activity for the historical education of Israeli and Polish youth".{{cite web |title=Alex Dancyg – laudacja |url=http://www.polcul.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=349:903&catid=20&Itemid=101 |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=polcul.pl |language=pl}} In 2023, when he was held hostage by Hamas, he was awarded the title "Man of Reconciliation" by the Polish Council of Christians and Jews.{{cite web |title=Alex Dancyg uhonorowany przez Polską Radę Chrześcijan i Żydów tytułem Człowiek Pojednania za rok 2023 |url=https://www.prchiz.pl/2023-11-16-alex-dancyg-uhonorowany |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=www.prchiz.pl |language=pl}}

Dancyg received several awards, including the National Education Commission award – the highest honor from the Polish Education Ministry – and the Silver Cross of Merit from the then-president of Poland, the late Lech Kaczyński. In 2024, he won the Jan Karski Eagle Special Award.{{Cite news |last=Cashman |first=Greer Fay |date=6 March 2024 |title=Grapevine, March 6, 2024: Arrivederci Roma |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-790381 |access-date=8 March 2024 |work=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}