Speech From August 17, 2009

Adina, you asked me to speak, you said, "Naomi read one of your letters." Because you knew that what I could not say to you, I wrote for you. Tonight I came home after you closed your eyes with a perfect, beautiful smile on your lips and I can not find the right words. You had them all. You knew what to say and you watched your words and never said things you shouldn't have said. Your speech was perfect. I am writing the letter you asked me to write, but I will forever be rewriting what I want to write to you in my heart.
You were the greatest older sister to me and liora and you were the treasured younger sibling of the older kids. Last night I stood in the hospital listening to mommy talk about what type of baby you were. How even then, in infancy, you didn't want to bother anyone. You never cried, she was saying, you were a perfect baby.
I have these snapshots of you. Perfect ones. That you were beautiful inside and out, no one can deny. That you handled the pain you were in with dignity and with super human strength everyone can attest to. That you were the greatest friend to your childhood friends- is seen in the friends who visited you and held your hand these last few months. That you were an amazing, selfless, loving, and giving mother- we can all see in Liba.
But, you were my older sister. And it's from the eyes of an adoring younger sister that I am writing this letter. We will miss you forever, our family is broken without you. You did everything for us, up to and including preparing us to continue marching on now. Your greatest gift to us siblings was your unconditional love, the way you devoted yourself to us. To our lives. Your greatest chessed was the way you taught us with your emunah. You said "thank you" but a genuine thank you to Hashem even for the pain you were having. "Naomi," I can hear you saying, "everything is Hashem. There is nothing but Hashem. There is only good. Even this is good."
Adina, you were a song. You were always singing your tehillem. Your teffilos. You were always smiling.
I have the strongest memories of you taking care of me. Of you allowing me to sit in the back seat of your teenage years and watch with admiration. You cared for me so well.
As kids, the little gals were known as "adina gals sister" or "adina gals brother". It was a title we loved to have and be known by.
Liba- you are your mothers daughter. My sisters light still shining brightly in this world.
Her tune still singing, Praising Hashem.
To my brothers and liora- you are each amazing. Strong shoulders. You carried adina through these times. I know how safe adina felt with my brother ari, because she mentioned it so many times.
Adina felt blessed to be my mother and fathers daughter. She vocalized it. She got to say how much she loved being loved by them. Adina you were a gift, full of life and laughter. Your life is a gift now. One I will always treasure. Adina, please be mochel me and liora for anything we have done to you. Please forgive me and liora.