At the Chabad of Poway synagogue in San Diego on Saturday, on the last day of Passover, a 19-year-old man opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, as approximately 100 worshipers attended the service, taking the life of one woman and injuring three others, including an eight-year-old girl and the rabbi.

Four heroes: Acts of love

But in the midst of the tragedy, four heroes have emerged, who risked their lives to save others, as one woman sacrificed hers to save the rabbi.

Woman gave life to save the rabbi

Jesus said…

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

– John 15:13

Lori Gilbert-Kaye, a 60-year-old woman who attended the synagogue, used her body as a shield, throwing herself in front of 57-year-old Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein. using her body as a shield to protect him from the shooter. Goldstein lost his index finger when he put his hand up as the gunman approached him and shot at him. Gilbert-Kaye took the gunfire intended for the rabbi, saving his life.

Despite CPR and life-saving efforts from first responders, Gilbert-Kaye died at the scene. Gilbert-Kay’s husband, a physician, was called to tend to a wounded worshiper, having no idea that the injured person was his wife. Upon seeing her, he fainted.

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.”

– Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Running toward gunfire

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

– Deuteronomy 31:6

When the gunman started firing, Oscar Stewart, 51, an ex-combat veteran, ran towards the shots when everyone was running out of the building. Stewart is now is being hailed as a hero for stopping the shooter from doing more damage. His directly charged, yelling loudly at the gunman, frightening the man, who dropped the rifle and ran. Stewart gave chase, pursuing the man to his vehicle, then pounding on it to try to get at the shooter.

Stewart was also the first person to begin performing CPR on Kaye.

Off-duty border patrol agent fires on shooter

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

– Proverbs 28:1

At the same time that Stewart was punching the window of the shooter’s vehicle, Jonathan Morales, an off-duty border patrol agent who was armed and also attends the synagogue, approached the suspect’s car.

Morales started firing at the vehicle in an attempt to disable it, but the shooter still managed to drive away.

President Donald Trump took to Twitter to praise Morales, writing: “He may have been off duty but his talents for Law Enforcement weren’t!”

Man saves children

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

– Joshua 1:9

A 34-year-old man named Almog Peretz is also being called a hero. He shuffled out a group of school-age children and got shot in the leg in the process. One of the children, eight-year-old Noya Dahan, was also injured receiving a shrapnel wound to the leg.

God’s love perseveres

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”

– Deuteronomy 7:9

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”

–Proverbs 3:3-4