In memory of Adva hy"d
The editorial board decided to create a time for AHAVA in memory of Adva, who gave so much and loved so many- please read her story below and help someone out in her memory.
I wanted to share some inspiring stories about Adva Fisher, hy'd, who was killed in the Pigua at tzomet Geha. After high school in Tzfira, and a year of combined sherut leumi and learning in Givat Washington, she was learning in Midreshet Tzofnat in Tzfat where my daughter had the zchut of being her roommate.
Adva was always looking to do mitzvot- but the following story (out of many) tells about the humility and modesty that accompanied her.
In addition to working twice weekly with a young oleh from a broken home as part of the Perach program, and making a serious contribution in a very short time, Adva volunteered daily at a soup kitchen (bet tamchui) in Tzfat. She begged the manager of the soup kitchen to give her a key so that she could go in often, and work when no one was around. The manager didn't want to give her a key, but she wouldn't let up until he gave in. Seh woudl go in every day to clean the place up, and mop the floors without any one watching her. No one even knows the true amount of time she spent there, since she did this with no one around. When her mother saw the key laying around with a sticker on it, she asked Adva what the key is for, but Adva made up a cover story so that even her own mother wouldn't know the extent of her mitzvot. It was only after her death that the manager of the soup kitchen wrote a 3 page letter describing how special she was that her family discovered what that key was for. The soup kitchen also was available to poor couples getting married, and Adva would always get up early on those days to personally decorate the hall, and make it more of a wedding atmosphere for these couples that could only afford a soup kitchen for their wedding. She did this as well with no one watching
4 people involved with the soup kitchen in Tzfat all came to the Midrasha to tell the Rabbanit how special Adva was, and the Mayor of Tzfat now wants to have a special event in her memory. They are thinking of opening a Yad Sarah branch in her name.
In the Midrasha the girls who stayed for shabbat would always make challot, and Adva felt they worked so hard and wanted to make it a bit easier for them. She heard about the electric flour sifter and took out 180 shekel from her bank in order to buy one as a gift for them. After her death her parents took the money that she set aside and with another 180 shekel of their money, they purchased 2 electric sifters to give the girls in the Midrasha and asked that they always think of Adva when they make challot.
Rabbanit Tova Bazak, the head of the Midrasha, spoke at the shiva house about the last day in Adva's life- and how she fulfilled the three special Mitzvot- Tshuva, Tefilla and Tzedaka in her last day.
During the few days that she had off for the Chanuka break- she chose to attend a kenes on Kiruv Rechokim- to participate in the mitzva of Tshuva - which took place at Yeshivat Hakotel the day she was killed. When Adva's picture appeared in the paper, a store owner called the family to tell them that Adva had purchased 2 Tzedaka boxes that day. Regarding the third mitzva of Tefilla- she went to the Kotel with her friend, who told Adva not to wait for her because she was planning a very long Tefilla and that Adva should return on her own. It turned out that the friend not only finished her long tefilla while Adva was still davening, but she ended up waiting a very long time fbecause Adva was so immersed in prayer. This special tefilla at the Kotel, was her last one just an hour or so before she was killed . One small comfort for the family is that because she was standing so close to the terrorist, she died instantly, as a result of two screws that flew right into her neck, without any advance warning or fear.
She truly loved Tzfat and had reached real spiritual heights while learning at the Midrasha. Everyone knew how happy she was and how fulfilled she felt.
Adva Fisher hy'd accomplished so much in her 19 years, and will be sorely missed by all. May her memory be for a blessing.
Submitted by Susan W.
Send a letter to Adva's parents at write@ttt.org.il
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