Tragedy in Sha'arei Tikva: Bar Asraf Takes His Own Life at the Grave of Friend Murdered at Nova Festival

Bar Bechor Asraf, a resident of Sha'arei Tikva, took his own life on Saturday by shooting himself at the grave of his close friend who was murdered at the Nova festival. Friends of Asraf, 30 at his death, told Walla that he struggled to cope with the death of Liron Barda, which kept resurfacing for him. His funeral was held at the Nahal Raba cemetery.

"We were at my brother's wedding, he probably started feeling lonely. You couldn't tell. He was always happy and laughing," his sister Lihi shared with Walla. "His best friend was murdered at Nova, he has a tattoo of her. She was part of his soul. We were at the peak of the family's life."

His sister continued: "Yesterday he left, I thought he went to isolate himself and think, as he usually does. An hour passed, two, my older sister said 'Get up, we're going to look for him.' First in the most logical places, and then we said at Liron's grave. He loved to talk there and be with her."

"I see him lying next to Liron's grave. I knew this was the end"

Lihi recalled the chilling moment she found her brother: "My sister felt it, she told me 'You go.' I went, and suddenly I see him lying next to Liron's grave. I said to him 'Bar, get up, what are you doing again...' and then I realized he was full of blood. I stepped on a gun next to him. I screamed. My father started resuscitation efforts. I knew this was the end. He died in the place he wanted to be most, with the woman he wanted to be with most."

Barda worked as a bar manager at the party held in Re'im. Although her friends and family asked her to flee, during the massacre she provided first aid to the wounded until she was murdered herself. The difficult news that arrived accompanied Asraf until his death.

"There is no one to replace her"

His mother Bracha said: "Bar was a special child. A child of giving, of love. He was Liron's soulmate since childhood. If he had a 'down', she would lift him up, the listening ear. Any problem he had, she was his confidante. A while ago I saw him sad, I asked what happened and he said 'Mom, I'm sad, it's hard for me without Liron, I miss her, there is no one to replace her, to encourage me.'"

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Aid organizations warn: victims' relatives need support

Shiran Maor, chairman of the Lev Batoach association, which provides mental health assistance to party survivors and their families, stated: "The heart breaks in the face of the difficult tragedy. Trauma does not only affect the survivors themselves. Spouses, parents, family members, and friends also carry immense pain and deal daily with the consequences of loss and trauma. Since October 7, we see how much they need mental health support. As far as we are concerned, they are 'circle 1.5': people who were deeply and continuously affected by the events, were part of that day from afar, and live the trauma day-to-day. Investing in circle 1.5 is a vital need."

If you or someone close to you is experiencing distress, do not stay alone. The ERAN association provides life-saving mental health first aid 24/7 anonymously and immediately. For mental health assistance, call 1201 or visit the ERAN website via chat, WhatsApp, forum, email, and SMS.