ByURI SELA

AUGUST 3, 2026 04:00

Updated: AUGUST 3, 2026 10:07

Content warning: This article contains mentions of suicide and mental health and may be distressing to some readers.

Bar Asraf, a 30-year-old from Sha'arei Tikva, died by suicide after firing a shot at the gravesite of his girlfriend, Liron Barda, who was killed at the Nova festival amid the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Associates of Asraf informed Walla that he struggled to process the loss of Barda.

"We attended my brother's wedding. He seemed to grow lonely, though it was not obvious. He remained cheerful and smiling," his sister Lihi told Walla.

"His closest companion was killed at Nova. He bears a tattoo in her memory as she formed part of his spirit. The groom's event featured dancing, a Shabbat gathering, and a performer; the atmosphere was enchanting. We stood at the height of family joy."

"Yesterday he departed, and I assumed he sought solitude to reflect as was his habit," his sister recounted. "One hour passed, then two, until my elder sister suggested we search for him. We checked likely spots first, then proceeded to Liron's grave. He often spoke there and stayed close to her."

Lehi Asraf describes discovering her brother beside Barda's grave

Lehi recounted the discovery to Walla: "My sister sensed something and urged me to go. I approached and saw him lying by Liron's grave. I called out, 'Bar, rise, what are you doing again...' before noticing the blood covering him."

"I trod on a firearm near him. I cried out. I could not act. My father began CPR. I understood it was over. He felt cold. Magen David Adom attempted all measures. He passed where he wished to be, beside the woman he longed for most," she added.

"He traveled there on Shabbat, though he observed the day of rest," she noted.

"He always said to me, my joy, you are resilient in all things. He was kind and aided many. He supplied meals to those in need. He took pride in me," she said. "He managed well overall, yet faced a sudden lapse while alone amid families."

"Others must grasp the lasting effect of Nova on individuals," Lehi stressed. "On that day he drove toward Re'im to rescue her, only to learn none remained and was turned back midway."

Barda managed the bar at the Nova music festival in Re'im. Despite pleas from loved ones to escape, she tended to the wounded during the attack until she was slain. The loss weighed on Asraf until his final day.

Barda and Asraf viewed as childhood soulmates

"Bar was an exceptional young man," his mother Bracha shared. "A youth devoted to giving and affection. He provided his sister with all I could not. He arranged provisions for troops. No request went unmet."

Bracha described the pair as "soulmates from childhood."

"When downcast, she would raise his spirits - she served as his confidante. All to him. Every concern found her ear. While he was in Colombia, she flew to surprise him. A bond beyond words," she said.

"Three agonizing days passed without word of her fate at Nova. He remained at my home, never leaving my side from dawn to dusk, seated with her family. He kept contact afterward, delivered flowers to her mother, and inked her image."

His mother added: "Recently I noted his sadness and inquired. He replied, 'Mother, I grieve without Liron. I miss her. None can take her place or lift my mood.' We sensed his deep struggle. Last week he celebrated at a tavern gathering before the wedding and dedicated a tune to his father and me. No warning appeared. It marked his farewell."

The Sha'ar Shomron Local Council conveyed sympathy to the Asraf family. "We extend a heartfelt embrace to the family in this trying period and seek to bolster you amid profound sorrow," the council said.

Trauma reaches beyond those who survived

Shiran Maor, head of SafeHeart, an organization offering mental health aid to October 7 festival survivors and relatives, released a statement of condolence.

"Our hearts break at this tragic loss. We join the family's sorrow and stand by all who knew and cherished him," Maor said.

"Trauma extends past survivors. Partners, parents, relatives, and friends bear heavy burdens, facing daily the consequences of loss and distress," he said.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.