Israeli Veteran Overcomes PTSD After Sniper Wound, Now Aids Trauma Survivors Post-October 7 Attacks

Tzviki Barkai, wounded by a sniper bullet during Israel's 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead, has spent nearly two decades battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite the bullet narrowly missing his head by a millimeter and piercing his helmet, the psychological impact haunted him with nightmares, panic attacks, and anxiety. Barkai initially concealed his struggles due to stigma and lack of awareness about PTSD in Israel at the time.

After years of denial and superficial therapy, Barkai found transformative relief through aquatic therapy with Einat Tasarfati, who became both his therapist and partner. The therapy helped him confront and process his trauma in a safe environment, gradually reducing his symptoms. In 2015, Tasarfati founded the Einot Bar Center in Israel’s northern Negev, providing therapeutic services for trauma survivors.

The October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacre intensified Barkai’s PTSD symptoms and transformed the center into a 24/7 trauma treatment hub, serving over 10,000 survivors by early 2024. Barkai describes experiencing PTSD twice: after Cast Lead and again after October 7, with more severe panic attacks but improved coping tools. He closed his businesses to focus on advocating for PTSD awareness and treatment.

Together, Barkai and Tasarfati have launched an international campaign to destigmatize PTSD and promote innovative healing models, culminating in Barkai’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly. He emphasized the invisible nature of PTSD, the urgent need for expanded mental health resources in Israel, and the importance of public support alongside government action. Barkai’s message is one of resilience and responsibility: having reclaimed his life, he now dedicates himself to helping others do the same.