Adir Portugal

Son of Dina and Avraham, brother of Eden Oz and Sapir, and partner of Danielle.
Born on the 8th of Shevat 5760 (January 15, 2000) in Mazkeret Batya, where he grew up and was educated.

He was a funny child, loved by everyone, caring and considerate, professional and sharp, with a huge smile – always, in every situation. With his captivating smile he achieved everything he wanted. He loved life and lived it in the very best way possible.

Adir loved playing soccer and spending time with friends. He loved extreme sports and trying new things. In the year before his fall, he went on a ski trip to Italy and surfed in Costa Rica.

Adir was a family-oriented person. He made sure to attend every Friday night family dinner whenever possible. During one of those meals, he gave his younger sister, who was in officer training at the time, his platoon commander pin.

The dream of “Porto”, as he was nicknamed from his youth by his soccer teammates, was to be a fighter. Even as a child he was a fighter – a sensitive fighter who protected the weak from neighborhood bullies. The video games he was naturally drawn to revolved around wars, snipers, and combat missions.

He was happiest when he was accepted into the Givati Reconnaissance Unit, where he served as a fighter, sniper, and later as a commander in the Shaked Battalion. Adir loved going out on missions and returned from them with a smile. He had a constant drive forward – never settling for what was, always striving to improve, to try, to fall and rise again.

He did not enthusiastically step into his role as a team commander in the officers’ course, as he preferred to remain in the field and fight. But his commanders, who recognized his potential to instill motivation in cadets, insisted. Indeed, Adir’s “message to commanders” proves how right they were. In this message, delivered to the cadets he trained, he expressed all the values by which he lived and which he sought to pass on.

The soldiers admired him and even saw him as a second father:
“Every weekend with you was an experience. You looked everyone in the eye, listened, and helped with whatever was needed.”

After five years of service as a fighter and officer in the Givati Brigade, he set out on a post-army trip to South America.

On October 7, Adir was abroad. Even though he did not receive an emergency call-up order, he did everything possible to return to Israel as quickly as he could, to join his friends and fight. Within a few days he arrived on one of the rescue flights, put on his uniform, and enlisted in reserve service. He joined the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Brigade and was among the first forces to enter Gaza. He fought bravely and eliminated terrorists. He fell in battle on November 19, 2023, at the age of 23.

The song “Angel in Purple” was written by Roni, Adir’s brother-in-law, and Oz, Adir’s brother, composed by Adi Leon, and performed by Ron Shoval.
The song was written to commemorate Adir’s story of heroism and to express, in part, the great pain following his fall.

Remembered and loved forever.