Sagui Dekel-Chen is coming home tomorrow- Here's everything we know about him

In a moment of profound relief and joy, Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 36-year-old Israeli-American farmer and social entrepreneur, is set to return home tomorrow after spending 495 days in captivity in Gaza. Dekel-Chen was among the approximately 80 residents taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attack.

For Dekel-Chen, this homecoming means meeting his youngest daughter, Shachar, for the first time. Born after his capture, she represents both the painful separation his family endured and the hope they maintained throughout his captivity. His wife Avital and their two older daughters, Bar and Gali, have been waiting for this reunion since that fateful October morning.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, Sagui's father and a professor at Hebrew University, has tirelessly advocated for his son's release. Throughout the ordeal, the family maintained a high-profile campaign, meeting with U.S. President Biden and attending the 2024 State of the Union address to keep attention focused on the hostages' plight.

Before his capture, Dekel-Chen was known in his community for his innovative spirit and dedication to social causes. For a decade, he worked on converting old buses into mobile technological classrooms for underserved Bedouin and Jewish communities in southern Israel. He also helped establish Bikurim, a youth music village in the Eshkol region that provides musical education to talented young musicians.

On October 7, Dekel-Chen demonstrated remarkable courage. While working in the kibbutz machine shop that morning, he spotted the infiltrating terrorists and climbed onto the roof of the communal dining room to warn others. After ensuring his family's safety in their bomb shelter, he joined the kibbutz security team to defend his community. His last contact came at 9:30 a.m., when he was reportedly engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the attackers.

Throughout his captivity, the Dekel-Chen family faced unimaginable challenges. Avital gave birth to their third daughter while Sagui was held hostage, and his older daughters marked birthdays, holidays, and countless everyday moments without their father. His mother, Neomit Dekel-Chen, who herself narrowly escaped captivity during the attack, has been a pillar of strength for the family.

The family's ordeal touched many hearts, inspiring cultural tributes such as renowned musician Idan Raichel's renewal of "Yored Ha'Erev," one of Sagui's favorite songs, performed in collaboration with graduates of the Bikurim music program Sagui helped establish.

Dekel-Chen's release represents a bittersweet milestone for Kibbutz Nir Oz, which suffered devastating losses during the October 7 attack. Twenty residents were killed, and the community was rendered uninhabitable, forcing survivors to relocate to Eilat. His return offers a glimmer of hope for a community still grappling with profound trauma and loss.

A passionate Red Sox fan and former player on Israel's junior national baseball team, Dekel-Chen will now face the complex task of rebuilding his life and reconnecting with his family, including meeting his infant daughter for the first time. His return home represents not just a personal victory but a powerful reminder of the ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages.