In what could be one of the most heroic stories emerging out of the tragic events in Mumbai last week, the Indian nanny who saved a two-year-old Jewish boy from the clutches of terrorists will now be conferred the highest Israeli honour granted to non-Jews.

The 'Righteous Gentile' is usually reserved for those who have risked their lives to save Jews during the time of the holocaust and Sandra Samuel, the governess of baby Moshe, will be the first Indian to receive it.

The nanny's heroism saved the life of Moshe Holtzberg when terrorists stormed into Nariman House and killed all the occupants, including his parents.

The terrorists had locked baby Moshe with his mother and his nanny Sandra in one room. But when he started crying, the terrorists told his nanny to take him to the ground floor and make him quiet.

Without wasting a moment, Sandra swooped little Moshe up in her arms and rushed to the ground floor and from there, to safety.

She has accompanied little Moshe to Tel Aviv along with his maternal grandparents and the bodies of his parents. Thousands there at the tearful funeral of her employers attended her.

And she was by his side at a prayer meeting at Mumbai when his cries for his mother reduced the entire congregation to tears.

The playmate turned saviour when terror struck.