Bar Tomer, 25: ‘Always-smiling’ Israeli-German student

Bar Tomer, 25, was murdered at the Supernova music festival near Re’im on October 7.

She is survived by her parents Eyal and Nili, and her older brother Aviv, 33, and sister Moran, 32. Her funeral and burial were held at Kibbutz Ein Shemer in northern Israel, where she grew up.

At the time of her death, Tomer was living in Tel Aviv with roommates as she pursued studies in psychology and management at Bar-Ilan University. She also worked in human resources at the historic boutique Elkonin Hotel.

“The field of human resources interested her and she considered making that her career,” her sister told The Times of Israel.

Tomer had arrived at the music festival around 2 a.m. with two of her girlfriends, dancing only four hours before rocket sirens went off. Soon after, terrorists from Gaza appeared shooting everyone they encountered, turning the rave into a killing field.

According to Tomer’s sister, she called their father at 8 a.m. to say that she and her friends were being shot at and that they were hiding.

“Then at 8:40, she sent a message on our family WhatsApp group saying, ‘We are in the south. We have been shot at for two hours. I love you. I will update you. The IDF is here, but we are stuck,'” her sister said.

Tomer sent her location to her family and then at 9:04 she updated that they continued to be under fire.

“That was the last we heard from her,” her sister Moran said.

Bar Tomer (Courtesy)

Tomer, an Israeli-German dual citizen, was missing for a week. Her family did not know whether she was dead or taken hostage to Gaza. Seven days after the savage Hamas onslaught, her body was identified and her family was informed. Her friend Noam Shalom was also murdered.

“I still haven’t processed that Bar is gone. She was so alive and energetic, always smiling and having fun with her friends,” her sister said.

Following high school, Tomer did her military service in the Navy.

According to her sister, she liked to draw and enjoyed being in nature and with animals. She loved to travel and spend time with her family.

Tomer’s grandfather died a month and a half after her murder, causing the family to sit shiva twice in a very short period.

“Our grandfather wasn’t in good health already, but Bar’s murder definitely led to his deterioration,” Moran Tomer said.

While losing the vibrant youngest member of their family is extremely painful, she said she, her brother, and her parents were strong and would get through it together.

“I just want everyone to know that Bar was my best friend and sister and that I love her very much,” she said.

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