Hayim Katsman was an American-Israeli peace activist and academic.
24 Facts About Hayim Katsman
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Hayim Katsman was murdered in the Holit massacre in Israel, on 7 October 2023.
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Hayim Katsman's parents immigrated to Israel from New York City in 1990.
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Hayim Katsman's mother was originally from Cincinnati, and his father was from Seattle.
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Hayim Katsman grew up in Petah Tikva in a Religious Zionist household.
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Hayim Katsman was sent to attend at an external high school program and at age 17 began studying philosophy at the Open University of Israel.
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Hayim Katsman had to pause his studies to do mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces.
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Hayim Katsman initially worked as a car mechanic, before becoming a gardener for the kibbutz.
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Hayim Katsman was a DJ who played a wide range of Arabic music.
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Hayim Katsman deejayed at friend's parties and various events under the stage name "Dr 3abass".
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Hayim Katsman resumed his philosophy studies at the Open University of Israel following his discharge from the IDF.
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Hayim Katsman subsequently earned a master's degree in political science from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where he led the adjunct professors' union.
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Hayim Katsman then moved to Seattle to pursue a PhD in international studies from the University of Washington.
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Hayim Katsman returned to Holit after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Hayim Katsman completed his degree remotely, winning the Baruch Kimmerling prize for best graduate paper in 2020 and graduating in 2021.
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Hayim Katsman was opposed to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, and refused to visit Israeli settlements there.
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Hayim Katsman was involved in several activist groups, including Machsom Watch and a group that organized "protective presence" shifts for Palestinian communities in the Hebron Hills.
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Hayim Katsman testified for Breaking the Silence, volunteered to transport Palestinians from Gaza to medical appointments in Israel, and was involved with volunteer work in Rahat.
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Hayim Katsman was working as a lecturer on philosophy, politics, and Israeli society at Hadassah Academic College at the time of his death.
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Hayim Katsman was in Holit when it was attacked by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023 and attempted to assist his neighbors.
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Hayim Katsman initially ran to the home of his neighbor Tehila Katabi and found that she had been killed.
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Hayim Katsman then ran to the home of his other neighbor, Avital Alajem and hid in the closet with her, shielding her with his body.
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Hayim Katsman was shot dead after Hamas fighters entered the house while Alajem survived.
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Hayim Katsman was then taken by Hamas militants to Gaza along with two children from the kibbutz, a four-month old baby and a four-year old child.