Why an NYPD Officer Donated to Chabad in the Middle of the Night

A random $1,800 donation to Chabad of the South Bronx turned out to come from an NYPD officer moved by a dream and a heartfelt wish.

By Chana Mushka Mishulovin

Ten months ago, an unexpected donation arrived at Chabad of the South Bronx: $1,800 from a man named Yehuda Sirota. There was no message and no explanation, no phone number, just the gift. We thanked him by email but didn’t get a response.

Six months later, as we began preparing for our transition to our new shlichus in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and preparing funds for the arrival of a new shliach to continue the work in the South Bronx, we reviewed our records and decided to call him personally to express our appreciation.

We Googled his name and found a photo of him in NYPD uniform alongside another frum police officer in the South Bronx whom we knew. We reached out to our cop friend for his number, who told us Yehuda is a Chabadsker, a lieutenant in the NYPD, and lives in Staten Island.

The moment he picked up and heard who was calling, he laughed and said, “I was waiting for the end of the story to tell you, but I can share it just with you now, if you keep it confidential.”

Yehuda and his wife had two daughters and deeply wanted a son. One night, Yehuda had a vivid dream. In the dream, he was told that if he gave $1,800 to Asher in the Bronx, he would merit a baby boy.

He woke up and told his wife. Without hesitating, she said, “Let’s do it.”

They were reminded of the story of the Rebbe Rashab’s birth, when his mother, Rebbetzin Rivka had two dreams, first on Yud Kislev and then on Yud Tes Kislev, in which her mother, the Mitteler Rebbe, and the Alter Rebbe instructed her to begin writing a Sefer Torah and promised she would have a “good son,” whom she should name Dovber after the Mitteler Rebbe. When she finally told the Rebbe Maharash, he insisted that such dreams must be fulfilled. (see more in “A Day to Recall, A day to Remember” by S.B. Avtzon).

Inspired by that, they acted on Yehuda’s dream immediately and sent the donation to Chabad of the South Bronx, the closest connection they could find to a Yid (Asher) in the Bronx.

Shortly after they gave the $1,800, his wife became pregnant.

By the time we finally called, she was already expecting and due around Rosh Hashanah. Yehuda told us the miracle had unfolded exactly as the dream described. Yehuda joked that although our names are not Asher, the Rebbe explains that Yaakov Avinu believed Yosef’s dreams would come true specifically because they had elements that didn’t add up to reality.

Their long-awaited baby boy was born right after Rosh Hashanah. His bris was held on Sukkos, and he was given the name Menachem Mendel. May he grow up to bring nachas to his parents and klal yisroel, healthy and happy.

I called him to wish him mazel tov. He said I could publish the story, and shared that he also found a dollar from the Rebbe before the bris which he felt was an additional bracha from the Rebbe. He added one more detail, the “cherry on top”: the baby was born weighing 7.70 pounds.

This week is Parshas Vayeitzei, when Yaakov’s journey begins with a dream, a message from Above that directs everything that follows. Some dreams are simply dreams, but sometimes they are meant to be acted upon.

A New Chapter for Chabad of the South Bronx
After eight meaningful years serving the South Bronx, our family has moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio, where we are now establishing Chabad of Shaker Heights.

Chabad of the South Bronx remains active during this transition with a temporary Shliach in place (ironically, his name is also Rabbi Sirota). We are now seeking a couple, of any age, who would like to step in long-term, under the head shliach Rabbi Levi Shemtov, and continue the work already underway– between the local Jewish population, Jewish businesses and Yankee Stadium.
The relationships are there, the groundwork is solid, and the potential for continued growth is real. Serious inquiries are welcome.

Launching Shaker Chabad
As we begin this new chapter in Shaker Heights with our six children K”ah, under head shliach Rabbi Leibel Alevsky, we’ve set up our Charidy campaign to help build a warm, welcoming hub for connection, celebration, and Jewish life here. From Shabbat dinners to the weekly Torah classes, baby classes, and Chanukah events now in the works, your partnership helps bring each part of this new community to life.

Click here to help launch Shaker Chabad: charidy.com/shaker or ShakerChabad.com

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