At the burial of his mother, Rebbitzin Chana, the Rebbe looked very disturbed. Initially, he would not allow the pallbearers to lower the coffin into the grave. No one understood why he was so upset.

Reb Avraham Parshan saw the gentile gravediggers watching, and it occurred to him that they might be the cause of the Rebbe’s discomfort. He took out a $100 bill and gave it to them, telling them to take a break. As soon as they turned their backs, the Rebbe motioned for the pallbearers to continue.

A few days later, Reb Avraham received a receipt from Machne Israel (the central Lubavitch charitable organization) for $100. Rabbi Chodakov called and told him that the Rebbe had sent a check for $100 to Machne Israel, explaining that this was for his mother’s burial expenses.