Rabbi Shai Shmuel Ben Yosef

We lost our beloved friend!! Nehorai Rafael Barazani was a 33-year-old IDF combat reservist and Duvdevan Unit veteran from Jerusalem who passed away in early December 2025. His death sparked public debate regarding the mental health of Israeli soldiers following the events of October 7, 2023. Circumstances of Death Discovery: He was found dead in his home on Thursday, December 4, 2025. Cause: While initial social media reports and some news outlets attributed his death to suicide due to severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), his family, including his sister Orian, clarified that he died of heart failure. They emphasized that the police did not suspect suicide and that no note was left. Mental Health Context: His family acknowledged that he had been suffering from PTSD and served only a few days in the reserves after October 7 because he recognized his own mental struggle. He had recently spent months abroad seeking treatment. Personal Background Life and Education: Born and raised in Jerusalem, he was an alumnus of Givat Gonen high school. Connections: He was a close friend of Roei Shalev, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival who died by suicide earlier in 2025. Barazani had previously expressed deep grief over Shalev's passing. Character: Described by his sister as a sensitive individual with high aspirations and a strong desire to help others.