Father of Fallen Golani Soldier Enlists in Reserves to Complete Son's Path

A year and two months before the end of his regular service, on October 7, 2023, Staff Sergeant Tomer Barak, a 20-year-old Golani fighter, fell in the battle for the Paga outpost near the Gaza border. His father, 50-year-old Itay Barak, is now enlisting for reserve service to continue the path his son could not complete.

"I felt I had to do something significant," Itay Barak explains. "Tomer served for a year and a half, and he had another year and two months left to complete his service. To close this debt for him, I volunteered to return to active reserve service in a combat unit."

Preparing for Service

Itay Barak has been assigned to the Nahal Oz outpost, located just three and a half kilometers from where Tomer fell. He has taken on the role of headquarters sergeant major for an armored reconnaissance battalion.

"I will live at the base," he says. "The sergeant major is responsible for the battalion's logistics, food, and other essential needs. I am also training to become a resilience coordinator for the sector to help soldiers cope with the challenges they face."

Honoring Tomer's Legacy

Tomer Barak was born in 2003 and grew up in Petah Tikva. He was a dedicated fighter in the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade. On October 7, he and his mortar team of seven soldiers fought against 150 Hamas terrorists to defend the Paga outpost.

The Barak family has established a non-profit organization called "Tomer's Dream." One of its primary goals is to organize processing days for reserve soldiers.

"We want to host three-day retreats for battalions where, through theater workshops, soldiers can process the difficult events they have experienced," Itay shares. "This is our way of choosing life and keeping Tomer's memory alive, just as he would have wanted."