IT was just another train journey home for Oscar 'Isaac' Theil.

But the 65-year-old Orthodox Jew has become a social media hero after an image of a black man sleeping on his shoulder for more than 30 minutes was originally posted on social media site Reddit.

Theil was on the train of the Kensington section of Brooklyn, New York, when the unidentified man fell asleep on his shoulder last Friday (AEST).

Another commuter was surprised at the scene and softly asked if he wanted help to wake the slumbering man.

"He had a long day so let him sleep. We've all been there," Theil allegedly answered.

News_Image_File: "He had a long day so let him sleep. We've all been there" ... Orthodox Jew Oscar 'Isaac' Theil's answer when asked if he wanted the sleeping man removed from his shoulder. Picture: Reddit

The commuter took a photograph and posted it online with a brief explanation.

The picture and caption went viral with 1.3 million "likes" and 172,563 shares on Facebook. It's also received 228 comments on Reddit, The New York Daily News reported

"There's still hope in humanity," said Facebook user Michael Bartley, whose comment alone got 13,583 likes.

"I don't see a black man and a Jewish man - I see two people," added Georgina Gainsford-De Giogrio.

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Theil said it was his sister Pam Russ, who lives in Montreal, Canada, who made him aware of the online interest generated from the photograph. His phone hasn't stopping ringing. He has even had calls from Israel.

"She was the first person to call and tell me how proud she was of me," Theil said.

He downplayed the incident.

"I just kept steady so he would be able to sleep. It wasn't easy to do because he was dead weight."

Theil eventually had to wake the man sleeping on his shoulder as he had to get off.

"I didn't want to scare him awake," he said. "I turned around to look at him and he was dazed."

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