Barak Rushgold was born on December 22, 1960 in the United States to Eliyahu and Ilana, who were studying there. In 1962 the family returned to Israel, making their home in northern Tel Aviv where Barak grew up and studied. He was also active in the Scouts movement.
In January 1979 Barak was drafted into the IDF and served in the Artillery. He successfully completed an officers' course. When he finished his regular service in January 1982, Barak volunteered for an additional year in the army, serving as commander of an artillery battery in the north. With the outbreak of the First Lebanese War (Shalom Hagalil) in June 1982, Barak and his battery advanced into Lebanon. During the battle for the city of Zur, his unit was ambushed by terrorists and on June 7, 1982 he was killed by an RPG. He was buried in the Kiryat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv.
