Professor's baby-friendly policy earns him the admiration of the Internet

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JERUSALEM (CNN) — In the past week, Jerusalem psychology professor Sydney Engelberg has gained Internet fame, fielded interview requests from all over the world and earned devotion from parents of infants everywhere, all because of a simple gesture: Holding a student's fussy baby while continuing to teach class.

Engelberg, 67, became a viral sensation last week after a former student went onto an Israeli social media site and shared a photo of the professor in front of a white board mid-lecture, holding a baby in star-covered footie pajamas.

Engelberg's daughter, Sarit Fishbaine, saw the photo and proudly shared it on her Facebook page with a message in Hebrew that ended, "My father is the best in the world."

The professor, who teaches graduate courses in organizational behavior at Hebrew University and Ono Academic College, didn't know who shot the photo, or even when it was taken.

This particular moment doesn't stand out in his mind because it happens fairly often. Just last week, he said, another mother asked if she could bring her baby "who wasn't feeling 100 percent," and when the child became restless, Engelberg said he picked up the baby and walked around so everyone could continue learning. The student could continue to participate in a group exercise, and the rest of the class wouldn't be negatively affected.

"I would say there is one or more babies in one or more classes every single week," he said. That's not to say he runs a nursery, but his students know that he will be understanding if the need arises.

> המקום - אוניברסיטה ידועה בירושלים.הקורס - התנהגות ארגונית.המרצה - ד"ר סידני אנגלברג. הארוע - בנה התינוק של אחת הסטודנ... > > Posted by [Sarit Fishbaine](https://www.facebook.com/sarit.fishbaine) on [Sunday, May 10, 2015](https://www.facebook.com/sarit.fishbaine/posts/10152862949246728:0)

The idea that a professor would be so understanding toward a young mother earned Engelberg kudos from parents everywhere.

"Good for him for understanding how hard it is for her to be a student and a mother and that she's trying to better herself for her son," one commenter wrote.

"If only we could all behave that way to each other. Care for each other and treat each other with respect and kindness," another said.

Engelberg said Israeli society is very family-oriented and doesn't just give lip service to the proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. Secondly, because of compulsory military service, Israeli students tend to begin school at an older age and are more likely to have young children.

"Just for that demographic reason, one has to be understanding."

A Facebook group called the National Union of Israeli Students is now inviting people to share other examples of faculty holding babies.

In his management consulting business, Engelberg frequently touts principles like leadership, engagement, empowerment and respect. In the classroom, he puts those values into practice.

"You can't simply talk about them, you also have to act on them, and one of the ways that I'm able to act on them at least in the academic setting is by relating to the mothers — relating to those students who are unable to find alternative childcare arrangements in a way which enables them to remain engaged, which shows respect for their situation."

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2015 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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