Noam Apter was working in the kitchen of the Jewish seminary in Otniel last Friday night, when a Palestinian terrorist entered the room. In an amazing act of selfless courage, Noam locked the door to the dining room, undoubtedly saving many lives—even though he knew he would pay the ultimate price.

Staff-Sgt. Noam Apter, 23, from the settlement of Shilo, who studied and worked in the yeshiva, locked the door of the kitchen, preventing the terrorist from entering the dining room, where dozens of seminary students were sitting down to their Sabbath meal.

Apter, the leader of a paratrooper unit, who was on unpaid leave from the IDF, took the courageous decision, even though he could have fled into the dining room. He was shot in the back. He didn’t have a chance to use his personal weapon.

(Hat tip: David Sheffey, who adds: “…this young man embodies the spirit and ideals of what it means to make a difference, make a stand against the evil that is so pervasive and tolerated in this world today.” Amen.)