Israël Gans was a son of Elias Gans and Mijntje Schuit. He married 10 November 1920 in Amsterdam Hadassa Polak, from whom he was divorced 15 Mei 1936. He had two daughters with her, namely Vrouwtje and Mietje, who were killed in Auschwitz 31 January 1944 together with their mother.
After his divorce from Hadassa Polak, Israël lived temporarily in with his father Elias Gans at Nieuwegrachtje 1 in Amsterdam, after which he moved 22 July 1936 to Eva de Borst at Kattenburgerplein 9, who was divorced too since 1934. On 16 November 1937, he went to Afrikanerplein 33, where he could live in with his brother-in-law Louis Franco, who was married to his sister Henriette Gans in 1934.
On 15 April 1942 Israël Gans married again in Amsterdam Debora Keizer, a daughter of Mozes Keizer and Vrouwtje Hekster, and came to live then with his wife, her mother Vrouwtje Hekster and her brother Levie Keizer at Nieuwe Kerkstraat 57 2nd floor in Amsterdam.
On 4 March 1943, Israël Gans was taken and deported to Westerbork, where he was locked in the penal barrack 67. His wife Debora Keizer was already taken in the night of 27/28 January 1943, together with her brother Levie Keizer and sent to Westerbork. Debora had to stay in barrack 64. Due to illness, her husband had been hospitalized in the Nederlands Israëlitsch Ziekenhuis (N.I.Z.) and stayed behind in Amsterdam.
On arrival in Westerbork, Debora Keizer was asked immediately to make inquiries at the N.I.Z. (on 29 January 1943) about the duration of the illness of her husband. On 2 February a message came in that Israël Gans should be nursed for at least another 14 days. Then on 5 March Debora made a request whether she was allowed to wait for her husband in Westerbork. ("Auf Ehemann warten").
An annotation on her registration card of the Jewish Council read: tomorrow a photocopy of statement from Messrs Rockland (Israël's employer) will be sent, stating that husband Israël Gans,“für Wehrmachts orders” is indispensable. On 4 March a request was made for a new certificate about stay, nature and duration of the disease of Israël Gans. On 6 March the Jewish Council was ordered to inform Messrs Rockland that if a “Sperre” (exemption from deportation) should given, the call from the “Zentralstelle” should be sent to Westerbork.
All these attempts have led to nothing. On 4 March Israël Gans was taken to Westerbork and on 10 March 1943, together with his wife Debora Keizer put on transport to Sobibor, where on arrival there on 13 March 1943, both were immediately killed.
City Archive of Amsterdam, archive card of Israël Gans, Hadassa Polak and Debora Keizer, residence card of Kattenburgerplein 9 in Amsterdam, family registration card of Israël Gans and the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Israël Gans and Debora Keizer.