In brief
Shalom Nagar, who carried out Israel's only execution by hanging, dies, leaving behind a complex legacy tied to a shadowed chapter in history.
Shalom Nagar, noted for his role as the reluctant hangman of Adolf Eichmann, passed away in Israel on November 26. He was in his late 80s, though reports vary regarding his exact age, with some sources placing it at 86 and others at 88. His death was confirmed by Avigail Sperber, director of the documentary “The Hangman,” released in 2010. For decades, Nagar kept his involvement in Eichmann’s execution a secret, worried about potential retribution from neo-Nazi groups. Despite his efforts to distance himself from the execution, the haunting memories lingered throughout his life. On May 31, 1962, Nagar had been enjoying a peaceful day out with his wife, Ora, and their young son when he was unexpectedly called back to work. A police van arrived to escort him, signifying that the execution's date had been set. He managed to convince his driver to let him reassure his family that he was not being abducted.During the execution—Israel’s singular capital punishment case—Eichmann requested white wine and cigarettes, declining a blindfold before meeting his fate. Nagar's responsibility was to release the trapdoor that would result in Eichmann's fall from a height of 30 feet. However, he later described the most harrowing aspect of his duty being the grim job of removing the noose and transporting Eichmann's lifeless body to a cremation oven on an unstable stretcher. This episode continues to resonate as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay of duty, morality, and the shadows of history.
