My Dear Friend Adira

Adir Adiranu, Hashem Adonanu, Ma Adir Shimcha B’chul Haaretz…chanting in a typical tune that is used in my shuls worldwide during mussaf kedusha on yomim naroim and the shelosh regalim, was the way I answered the phone whenever I knew Adira was calling. Not only did it have her name in it, it also defines her. "Mighty is our Mighty One, Hashem, our Master- how mighty is Your name throughout the earth." In her life and her death Adira’s name has been mighty and spread throughout the world; be it Yeshiva World, text messages or emails, many were moved by Adira’s story and in return, proclaimed Hashem’s name throughout the world.
Since the passing, every time I picture Adira, I picture Adira from Purim in Seminary. She looked exactly like Malkie Fogel! It was pretty funny how she dressed up. But Adira was more than that, she didn’t just wear the clothes of her esteemed mechanechet or role models, she acted like them. There were many of times when Adira and I would be talking after our seminary days and she would refer to teachers from seminary. The questions was- "What should I do and how should I act?" was usually answered with "what would my role models from Israel do?" She would look up to the greatest Darchei Binah had to offer and emulate their ways. I think many people can learn from Adira and emulate in her ways and follow in her middos and mitzvos in which she performed so diligently.
Adira, as we all know, loved all Jews. Whether they were frum or not, Adira had a deep love for them. And she loved doing kiruv. From when she first got back from seminary, she taught in a kiruv school and learned with a partner over the phone through Partners in Torah. After finding her soul mate, she didn’t stop kiruv. Her trip to Moscow with Yehudah, I’m sure would have been the first of many if her life wasn’t cut short.
She loved people, and people loved her. I knew that if I ever needed a good laugh, Adira was the one to call. Even when we had nothing to talk about, the conversation usually had me crying of laughter.
As I sit here a week after Adira has passed on and she had a baby, I have shed many physical tears and even more tears in my heart. I should be writing on her onlysimchas page wishing her much Mazal Tovs on the birth of her healthy baby girl, and not a blog made in her memory. I remember all the funny times and I remember all the times I really was impressed and learning from Adira’s actions. These are memories that I need to keep close to my heart since I don’t have the ability to create new ones with my dear friend, Adira. When I say the line in Mussaf Kedusha "Adira Adonanu.." I’ll say it with a tear and be thinking of Adira. I know that now that she has finished her mission in this world, she will continue to work on her mission in the world to come and beg Hashem with all her heart to bring Mashiach so we can really spread the name of Hashem throughout the world, the ultimate Kiruv project, and that we can have the benefit of enjoying Adira once again with techias hamasim, in our days! Amen!
Thank you Millers who did a wonderful job raising such an amazing girl that has touched so many lives. And to baby Rochel Adira Chana- you should know, your mommy was something to be proud of. May the family be comforted.