A Soldier's Story: Love, Loss, and the Road to Recovery

From Battlefield to Heartbreak

Twenty-one-year-old Noam Assaraf, a seasoned combat veteran of IDF operations in Gaza and Lebanon, never imagined his girlfriend, Sgt. Shira Suslik, would be the one to die first. He'd faced danger head-on in warzones, while she served in Beersheba, seemingly far from harm. "Shira always told me 'take care of yourself! I'm just in Beersheba, nothing is gonna happen [to me].'" Assaraf recalled, the memory still raw with pain.

But tragedy struck in October 2024. Just as Assaraf returned from a 50-day deployment in Gaza, eager to reunite with Shira, terror struck at the Beersheba Central Bus Station. He was moments away from seeing her, having just called to say he'd arrive in five minutes. He even spotted her from the bus window.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Gunshots shattered the air. Assaraf, instincts honed by combat, reacted instantly, shooting through a window and rushing inside. But he was too late. He witnessed the horrific moment his girlfriend was shot, first in the leg, then fatally in the chest.

Facing the Unimaginable

In the chaotic aftermath, Assaraf neutralized the terrorist, then desperately performed CPR on Shira until paramedics arrived. The adrenaline masked the devastating truth. "I didn't see her for 50 days, I told her I'd see her in five minutes, and then I never saw her again," he said, the weight of the loss evident in his voice.

Hours later, wounded himself, the reality crashed down. Shira was gone. The pain was unlike any he'd known. "Losing a girlfriend is something different," he reflected. "A friend is a man; he knows he has a chance to die. What's your chance to die in Beersheba?"

Finding Strength in Community: Belev Echad

Assaraf's story, though uniquely tragic, is one shared by too many wounded IDF soldiers. Struggling with PTSD and the emotional scars of war and loss, he found solace in Belev Echad, a non-profit dedicated to supporting wounded soldiers.

Belev Echad provides comprehensive care, from medical and mental health treatment to financial and emotional support. "We're an organization that helps wounded soldiers, period," stated Lauren Sobel, a manager at Belev Echad. "If we don't have something somebody needs, then we will quite literally build it from the ground up for them.”

Critically, the organization fosters a sense of community. Many staff members are wounded soldiers themselves, creating an environment of understanding and shared experience.

Healing Through Connection

Beyond therapy, Belev Echad offers enriching activities and community events, from surfing and sports to all-expenses-paid trips abroad. Assaraf participated in a trip to Miami, initially hesitant but ultimately finding it a turning point in his healing journey. "When I went to Belev Echad and told the other guys my story, that helped me," he admitted.

Surrounded by fellow soldiers who understood his pain without needing explanations, Assaraf found a unique form of camaraderie. "They [fellow wounded soldiers with Belev Echad] know everything that's on my mind. Even if we have a different experience, it's almost the same.”

Assaraf's story testifies to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community in the face of unimaginable loss. Belev Echad stands as a beacon of hope, offering not just treatment, but a lifeline of connection and support for Israel's wounded heroes.