An IDF soldier was rescued by a man she had never met before when he performed an unexpected gesture of extreme generosity for her. The story comes from fellow IDF soldier Danielle Danino, who witnessed the moving act of kindness.

Danino posted on her Facebook page that she was riding her usual train route back to base when “I hear a young woman soldier like me talking on her phone. She lives on a basic army salary and is the only daughter of a single mother. She was begging the electricity company not to disconnect her mother at the end of the month.” Danino recounted that the soldier was crying as she attempted to explain to the company that her mother had not received her National Insurance check, her only means of income.

After no more than a few minutes, Danino said a man, later identified as Isaac Ophir, “comes out of nowhere, ‘grabs’ her phone and pays the bill with his credit card. The bill was not small, 1,950 shekels ($500)” but he paid without a moment’s hesitation.

Following this inspirational deed, Danino told the Hebrew news site nrg that she walked up to Ophir and told him, “I cannot remain apathetic towards a person like you. I think people need to see and know that there are good people in this world, and learn from you about giving with love.” So she took a photo of him and shared the story on Facebook.

Added Danino in her interview with nrg: “I learned a great life lesson from this man. And all he did was say that the point [of what he did] was to see the young woman calmed down and with a smile on her face, which is the most important thing.”

Followers of the Bible are no strangers to the value of charity (tzedakah in Hebrew). Well over 100 verses are dedicated to teaching the importance of supporting those less fortunate than themselves. By aiding a woman whom he had never met, Ophir emulated God’s teaching: “You shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks” (Deuteronomy 15:8).

Danino concluded her post with an incredible message: “I got off the train with the hope and belief that there are human beings that will do something for others without expectation of compensation. We were all amazed and speechless and full of pride to be part of this nation where people help others in times of distress.