Leon Bar

Leon Bar was born in 1970 in Kiryat Gat

Leon Bar, born Ben Mocha, was born in Kiryat Gat on 11 April 1970 to Alice and Amram Ben Mocha. He was married to Einat, and the couple had 3 children.

He enlisted in the IDF in 1989 and volunteered for the Paratroopers, where he rose from platoon commander to company commander in Battalion 202. He later commanded Battalion 906, served as deputy commander of the Menashe Brigade and became chief of staff of the Judea and Samaria Division as a colonel. He retired after 26 years and was recognized as a disabled veteran due to damage to his hearing and knees.

He graduated from the Barak command and staff course. He held a bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences from Ben-Gurion University and a master's degree in public policy from Tel Aviv University.

On 7 October 2023 he drove from Gedera to Sderot and evacuated a wounded person to hospital. He then went to the area of the Nova Festival and took wounded people and survivors to nearby towns and to hospitals.

On 8 October he and his son Omer searched for survivors on Route 232. Near the Black Arrow Monument a terrorist opened fire, wounding Omer and killing Leon. He was buried in Gedera, and he and his son were awarded the President's Medal for Civilian Heroism.