Uri Bar Or

On the night of November 29th, Noya Bar Or felt a momentary relief as her son, Staff Sergeant Uri Bar Or, returned home for a short leave from his duties in the Gaza Strip. She shared a heartfelt Facebook post: “Finally, after almost two months! He’s out for a few hours. Stay safe, my son.” Her words encapsulated the hope and concern of a mother living through uncertain times.

Tragically, just days later, on May 28, 2024, a devastating turn of events shattered the Bar Or family’s world. Uri, alongside two of his comrades, was killed by a powerful explosive device in a booby-trapped building near Rafah. This news sent ripples of sorrow through Midreshet Ben-Gurion, where the Bar Or family lived.

Uri was more than just a soldier; he was a talented composer whose musical talents shone from an early age. His mentor, Professor Michael Wolpe, described him as “an extraordinary talent, one in a generation.” Uri’s music, like his character, was delicate and profound. The music department coordinator at his high school recalled him as “a talented and humble student, delicate in spirit and special.” In honor of Uri, he shared one of his compositions, a testament to his lost potential.

Uri’s work, “Heartbeat Rhythm,” composed for his music matriculation, was performed by the Israeli Chamber Orchestra at the “Sounds in the Desert” Festival. This piece demonstrated his ability to translate emotion into music, capturing life’s essence through sound.

Uri was laid to rest in the cemetery at Midreshet Ben-Gurion, surrounded by a grieving community. Eran Doron, the head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council, delivered a touching eulogy:

“Uri, you spread goodness through strings and sounds. Your music connected notes and words, lifting those who heard it. You educated with integrity, always leading by example. From the paths of the settlement to the language of the desert, Zin School, and the environmental high school, you left an imprint on every place you touched. What a full life you lived! What a life of meaning and creation!

You and your generation pay the heaviest prices. You and your families bear the burden of war’s cost, paying with your lives. It’s impossible not to think of Ro’i Sargosti, of blessed memory, your peer who fell at the war’s start and was buried nearby. You and your friends found yourselves in a reality we didn’t prepare you for—a reality where you must fight for our existence and the character of the land. You faced a world devoid of justice, and I have no doubt you would have found the right path.”

The incident in Rafah also claimed the lives of Staff Sergeant Amir Galilov from Shimsheet and Staff Sergeant Ido Epel from Tzofar. The explosion left three other soldiers seriously injured, with a total of seven wounded over the past two days.

Uri Bar Or was only 21 years old. His brief life was a symphony of courage and creativity, a testament to a young man who dared to dream and inspire those around him. His music and legacy will resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and those who will come to know his story.