A conversation with Ben Danzig, his son, which took place on November 12, 2023 with Prof. Liat Hamama, and also based on material from the media

Alexander (Alex), is a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a father of 4 children (three sons: Ben, Matti, Yuval, and a daughter: Lee), a grandfather of 13 grandchildren (aged between One and a half and 21 years old).

Alex was born in 1948, in Poland, his parents were Holocaust survivors. 

When he was 9 years old, Alex immigrated to Israel with his parents. 

He spent his first few years growing up and learning Hebrew in Kibbutz Negba with his uncle. 

At the age of 12, he moved to live with his parents in Yad Eliyahu ,a neighborhood in Tel- Aviv, where he continued his school studies until he joined the army. 

Alex’s military service included actions that could not be shared, but he contributed greatly to Israel in all of its wars. 

He came to Kibbutz Nir Oz when he joined “Gar’in Nahal”as part of his military service. He was also a member of the of “Ha’Shomer Hatzair” movement and served several times as Head of Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Alex taught about the Holocaust and together with Avraham Atzili from Kibbutz Zikim, he developed the Israeli Youth Delegation program to Poland. He also wrote books for travelers to Warsaw, Lublin, Krakow and Lodz. 

As described by his son, Ben Danzig, Alex is an intellectual, a polymath, and a conversationalist in a wide range of fields. 

Alex loves sports and also worked in Kibbutz Nir Oz fields for many years. 

Five years ago, Alex suffered from a heart attack, and thanks to the resourcefulness of one of his neighbors, he survived. He needs medications to keep him healthy.

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Alex was captured and kidnapped by Hamas, along with about 80 other residents (children, men, women) from his community. 

Among the people that were kidnapped is Itzik Elgarat, 69, Alex’s brother-in-law (the brother of Alex’s children’s mother), who was shot by Hamas and taken while bleeding into Gaza. 

His son, Ben Danzig, states: “I hold the hope… that the politicians do their job and return all hostages to their own country… It’s about people – human beings!!!