Continued from the biography of R. Yisroel Duchman:
The following incident highlights the Duchman’s self sacrifice for others’ sake. It was 5723 (1962) and R. Yisroel was earning very little. To supplement his income, R. Yisroel served as a chazan in a nearby shul for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. He earned around $300, and he set aside the money to buy their own washing machine.
At that time, an uncle visited from Eretz Yisroel, to receive a bracha from the Rebbe to marry off his 3 older daughters. The uncle was clean shaven, and in yechidus, the Rebbe told him that if he would grow a beard, he would find good shidduchim for his daughters. The uncle was at loss, since he knew his wife wouldn’t agree to him growing his beard. He was 10 years older than her, and if he let his white beard grow, he would look even older. The Duchman’s knew that their aunt very much wanted a leather coat, which she and her husband couldn’t afford it, and they decided to give all the money they had saved for the much needed washing machine, so that their uncle could buy for his wife this luxurious coat.
The ploy worked, the man began to grow his beard, and within just a few months, all three girls found good shidduchim.