At Almah Caffe, a kosher dairy café located at the corner of Utica and Dean in Crown Heights, among the occasional forgotten items left in the store, an unassuming tote bag—forgotten by its owner nearly a year ago—seems to have a missing Rebbe dollar.
Like many family-friendly spots, Almah Caffe occasionally ends up with forgotten items: scarves, jackets, or umbrellas that customers accidentally leave behind. Most are reclaimed quickly, but some linger. This tote bag was among them, gathering dust in the storage area for months. Recently, during a routine cleaning, the staff decided to examine its contents before discarding it.
Inside the bag was a small pouch containing a dollar bill stapled to a Shir Hamalos. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a Rebbe dollar.
The dollar bore an inscription suggesting it was given by the Rebbe, but crucial details—like the recipient’s name or the date—were missing. “It’s not something we come across often,” said a staff member at Almah Caffe. “We knew right away this was something special, and it needed to be handled with care.”
The discovery has left the café staff with a mission to return the item to its rightful owner. The bag had all the hallmarks of being used by a parent or caretaker—it contained everyday items like tissues and baby supplies—but no personal identification was found.
The dollar, accompanied by the Shir Hamalos, may hold deep value for the person who received it from the Rebbe. There’s always a slight possibility that it’s a random dollar inscribed recently by some person for whatever reason they chose. The staff is now calling on Anash to help reunite Rebbe Dollar with its owner.
If you or someone you know may have left behind a bag containing a dollar and Shir Hamalos at Almah Caffe, please visit the café at 87 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213, or call Moshe at 323-622-5714 with identifying details.
What incredible hashgocha protis. I hope the true owner is found but if not then whoever found it gets some brochos.