As a Special Combat Officer in Operation Defensive Shield, Rafael injured his spine when a rocket propelled grenade shot him off the roof of a building his unit was clearing. He has severe spine injuries and is in pain 24 hours a day. He also wrestles with intense PTSD and sees this tattoo as a way to cope with some of the suffering.
Rafael was tattooed during Healing Ink Tel Aviv by Israeli artist Alexay at Barbaria on October 24, 2016