Hayim Katsman, 32: US-Israeli scholar and peace activist

Hayim Yeshurun Katsman, 32, an American-Israeli lecturer on philosophy, politics and Israeli society, was killed in Kibbutz Holit on October 7.

A member of the kibbutz’s local security team, he was retroactively recognized as a fallen soldier with the rank of master sergeant in the reserves. He is survived by his parents, Hannah and Daniel, and his siblings Ezra, Tova, Noy, Yedaya and Tzviya.

He was buried on October 12 in Petah Tikva.

His uncle, Abe Katsman, described him in a Facebook post as a “musician, mechanic, horticulturist, writer, academic/PhD, and a very good grandson to my father.”

Born in Israel to American immigrant parents, Katsman had a bachelor’s degree from the Open University in philosophy and political science, a master’s degree from Ben-Gurion University in politics and a PhD from the University of Washington in international studies. He was active in several local peace organizations.

His neighbor, Avital Alajem, told CNN that the two of them were hiding in a closet as Hamas terrorists stormed into Kibbutz Holit on October 7, and he protected her with his body.

“He was murdered,” Alajem told CNN. “I was saved… he was a wonderful person, he was a talented person, he was a funny person, he was someone who wanted to live.”

Writing in The Jerusalem Post, his uncle, Aaron Katsman, noted that “Hayim’s motto was, ‘In every room I enter, there is someone smarter than me in some way.’ Considering that he had a PhD from the University of Washington, there’s a pretty good chance he was the smartest in the room. His motto spoke volumes about his character. He was modest, generous, intellectually honest, was very principled, stuck to his convictions, and really loved life.”

His sister, Tzviya, wrote on Facebook that “Hayim loved the land, people, words and music. He was involved in so many different things that it would be impossible to even begin listing them here. He was loved and he was a source of inspiration in a unique way. I miss him so much.”

His mother, Hannah Wacholder Katsman, a blogger and women’s rights activist originally from Cincinnati, told The Washington Post that her son wanted to live in Holit to help “revive this kibbutz that was aging and isolated and frankly dangerous” due to its proximity to Gaza.

She said that she knew her son “wouldn’t want this conflict to be used to kill innocent people.”

Writing in a Times of Israel blog post in January, Hannah said that as the family began mourning, “Hayim’s friends, colleagues, teachers and students sent memories and pictures from his childhood, his recent trek to India, his years studying for his doctorate in Seattle, peace activism, music, and his life on Holit where he served as gardener and was recently elected as head of the kibbutz council.”

She added that among all the messages she received, “what stood out most was the variety and intensity of the connections that Hayim had made. Colleagues and friends alike noted how he approached each person as an individual, with no sense of ego or superiority. Most people he met didn’t know about his doctorate or his many talents. He saw everyone as equal, no matter their gender, race, religion, nationality or political opinions.”

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