Clara (Ora Chaya bat Moshe v’Sarah) Axelrod nee Klein, a true eshet chayel, was niftar on the day of 9 Kislev, 5768 (19 November, 2007). She is survived by her husband Jon (Elchanan); her sons, Amichai Shaul and Daniel Elazar; her stepsons, David Ha’Ivri and Seth; as well as her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

    She was born (1952) and grew up in Romania, under Communist rule, to a Zionistic family and was raised with strong Jewish roots. She overcame great adversity in her life, starting with her decision to either finish university in Timisoara or to take an exit visa to Israel. After many attempts, she was finally granted the visa, but was forced to repay all her scholarships before leaving. She left the country without receiving any records, and with just the clothes on her back, and a small valise.

    When she made Aliyah, she struggled to learn Hebrew, despite already speaking five languages and took whatever job she could find to help pay her way through her continuing education. No job was beneath her in her quest for knowledge, a passion that would stay with her throughout her life. She acquired a B.A. in Art History and began teaching Art in Nahariya.

    In Israel, aside from learning Hebrew, she learned Spanish from her adoptive mother Perla, and English from her future husband, Jon - whom she met at a Purim party in Ma'alot. They were married a year later.

    She raised their two sons, with her husband, for the first four years in Israel, then emigrated to the United States. The most important thing to her was that her children receive a strong Torah education, and despite the hardships of paying for their tuition, the boys attended the best yeshiva they could afford. Her sons were raised in a loving house, with a deep love for the Torah and mitzvot, and with a great respect for g’milat chesed and kiddush HaShem.

    Clara was a talented artist, a wonderful cook, a dedicated homemaker, a loving wife, a caring and devoted mother, and just generally a strong woman. Her stepson Seth said at her funeral (held 10 Kislev, 5768) that she was the strongest woman he had ever met, and that her passing was her refusal to be a weak person. In whatever decision she made, it was met with conviction and determination to see the resolution to fruition.

    She almost lost her life a year ago in her struggle with Crohn’s disease, wherein she had to have part of her intestines removed. Complications with that surgery were (baruch HaShem) overcome with her strong will and determination. Late last month however, she was confronted with another disease when she was diagnosed with cancer of the brain.

    Tests indicated that she should have reacted well to the treatment, and initially did, but she developed a throat infection (due to a weakened immune system from the radiation and chemotherapy) and began having difficulty eating and drinking. Days later, she was taken to an emergency room in Las Vegas, NV where she was residing at the time, and shortly thereafter went into cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at 12:37AM PST.

    She was loved by everyone who met her, and even more so by everyone who got to know her. Despite the tumultuous nature of her life, she was never embittered by her hardships and would take great strides to relieve the stress of others, before considering her own needs. She was an amazing woman, who will be missed greatly by all who met and knew her.

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How do you say good-bye to a wife.
How do you close that chapter of your life.
When for nearly three decades she was the light of your life.
My Ora Chaya, my Clara, the light of my life.
Like Sara, to Avraham, my sister my wife.
From the moment we met the electricity was there.
The touch of your hand, the smell of your hair.
I know in my heart, you’ll always be near.
My Ora Chaya, my Clara, the light of my life.
My best friend, my lover, my confident, my wife.
Your pain is over and mine has just started.
I told you I love you the last time we parted.
I sit here alone in the dark.
We were supposed to be that old couple holding hands in the park.
I remember all the good times and joys.
And try to be strong for the sake of the boys.
My Ora Chaya, my Clara, the light of my life.
I’ll never stop loving you my sister, my wife.
I know you would want me to go on with my life.
I’m just not ready to start without you.
My world has gone dark.
The light has gone out.
I no longer know what life’s all about.
You were supposed to be here to see grandchildren grow.
How I’ll go on I really don’t know.
My Ora Chaya, my Clara, the light of my life.
My sister, my lover, my mistress, my wife.
Our soul were mates in heaven before our birth.
And we’ll be together when I leave this earth.
My Ora Chaya, my Clara, the light of my life.
My sister, my lover, my soul mate my wife.