Alexander Dancyg

Age: 76

From: Nir Oz

In Loving Memory of the Innocent Souls Taken Too Soon. United in peace, their light shines on in the hearts left behind. October 7, 2023, a day of sorrow, but their memories guide us toward a hopeful tomorrow.

Alexander Dancyg, 75, of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was abducted from his home on October 7 and killed in Hamas captivity. His family was informed of his death on July 22, 2024; IDF forces located his body in the Gaza Strip on August 20, and he was returned to Israel. Dancyg was born in Warsaw, Poland on 21 July 1948, to parents who were survivors of the Holocaust. He was born in Warsaw as the second child of Nina (Nycha) and Marcin (Mordechai) Dancyg. In 1957, he and his family immigrated to Israel,[4] 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[1][2] of the post-Communist period. 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.[1][8] Dancyg led a program for 120 Israeli and Polish schools to meet together during Israeli school trips to Poland.[9] 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.

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Remembrances

Remembrances of Alexander Dancyg

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Byłeś wspaniały, jesteś wzorem człowieka, będziemy iść tą drogą.

By: Karol Ejgenberg

From: Warszawa

Alex Dancyg was a man of “dual identity”. This is how he referred to himself. A hundred per cent Jewish and a hundred per cent Polish. And the fact that it seemed mathematically absurd never bothered Alex at all. Always authentic, at times to the point of being controversial. Never trying to please or flatter anyone. Perhaps that was the secret of his ability to connect with everyone he met, regardless of their age, education or worldview.
Alex was a true champion of dialogue between Poles and Israelis, a man who fought against our mutual prejudice and stereotypes, a long-time collaborator of the Yad Vashem Institute, the head of a guiding course for guides taking Israeli youth to Poland, an advocate of teaching about the life and history of Polish Jews, and not only of their Holocaust.
He was a great authority for many people in Israel and Poland, an intellectual guide and a guide in their lives.
We are all aware of how much we owe him. On many levels.
Alex loved Polish literature. He was passionate about sport, particularly football. Yet his greatest and requited love was other people.
Alex was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1948. He left for Israel with his parents and sister at the age of nine. There, he completed school and studied History at university. He was a member of the Ha-Shomer Ha-Tzair youth organisation, and it was there that he came up with the idea to live in the Nir Oz kibbutz, right on the border with Gaza. Alex was not only a historian, but also an irrigation specialist, an expert in growing peanuts and potatoes.
He had four children and many grandchildren. They are all fortunate survivors of the Hamas terrorist attack on their kibbutz.
Alex visited Poland several times a year. He had his good friends there.
Us.
We all loved and love him very much. This will not change. Until the end, until last Monday, we hoped we would meet again.

Farewell Alex, our beloved Friend, our life and intellectual Guide. You will forever remain in our hearts.

Marta Rebzda,
Dorota Salomon,
Dorota Kozarzewska,
Kinga Kołodziejska,
Janusz Berdzik
and Adam Musiał

By: Marta, Dorota, Dorota, Kinga, Janusz, Adam , Friends

From: Poland