This week we read Parhas Vayera. Three days after Avraham's circumcision, He is sitting outside of his tent waiting for guests, despite the pain that he is in. Hashem sends three angels disguised as travelers to him. He invites them in and prepares food for them. 
One of the angels promises Sarah that she will have a baby next year. Sarah is 90 years old and she laughs at this promise . Another angel heals Avaraham. 
The third angel warns Avaraham that the city of Sedom, where his nephew Lot lives, will be destroyed. Lot leaves the city with his family and the city is burned. His wife turns around to watch the destruction and turns into  a pillar of salt. 
Avaraham and Sarah have a baby boy who they name him Yizchak which means to laugh. He received a Brit Milah when he is eight days old. Hagar and Yishmael are sent away from the home because Yishmael is being a bad influence. 
Hashem tests Avraham’s devotion by commanding him to sacrifice Yitzchak. Without asking questions, Yitzchak is bound and placed on the altar, and Avraham raises the knife to slaughter his son. A voice from heaven calls to stop him; a ram, caught in the undergrowth by its horns, is offered in his place.

Tuesday, the 20th of Cheshvan, is the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, Rabbi Sholom Ber Shenursohn, the 5th Chabad Rebbe. The Rebbe Rashab devoted himself to the future of the Jewish nation by involving himself in education on all levels. He founded the flagship Chabad yeshivah Tomchei Temimim, the first to incorporate Chasidic thought into its syllabus. Focused on strengthening communities in remote areas, he organized a Jewish corps which helped with the education of Jewish children and adults.

A profound intellect, he was known to sit perfectly still in deep contemplation for hours on end. His written works provide the first systematic organization of Chabad thought and provide the basis of these studies in Chabad yeshivahs today. His activities strengthened Jewish awareness and secured the future for coming generations.

In this week's Torah reading, G‑d promises a child to Abraham and Sarah, despite childless Sarah's advanced age. This week's haftorah describes a similar incident that occurred many years later — the prophet Elisha assuring an elderly childless woman that she will bear a child.

The haftorah discusses two miracles performed by the prophet Elisha. The first miracle involved a widow who was heavily in debt, and her creditors were threatening to take her two sons as slaves to satisfy the debt. When the prophet asked her what she had in her home, the widow responded that she had nothing but a vial of oil. Elisha told her to gather as many empty containers as possible — borrowing from neighbors and friends as well. She should then pour oil from her vial into the empty containers. She did as commanded, and miraculously the oil continued to flow until the last empty jug was filled. The woman sold the oil for a handsome profit, and had enough money to repay her debts and live comfortably.

The second miracle: Elisha would often pass by the city of Shunam, where he would dine and rest at the home of a certain hospitable couple. This couple even made a special addition to their home, a guest room designated for Elisha's use. When the prophet learned that the couple was childless, he blessed the woman that she should give birth to a child in exactly one year's time. And indeed, one year later a son was born to the aged couple.

A few years later the son complained of a headache and died shortly thereafter. The Shunamit woman laid the lifeless body on the bed in Elisha's designated room, and quickly summoned the prophet. Elisha hurried to the woman's home and miraculously brought the boy back to life.

Belief in Moshiach’s coming and hoping for him each day is a core part of Emunah. Though earlier generations had many great Tzaddikim, Moshiach will come in our time because all their good deeds still remain and build upon one another. When we add our own mitzvos to theirs, the combined merit brings us closer to the ultimate redemption. Yes, we are small, but we stand on the shoulders of giants. 

The 20th of Cheshvan is also the first Yartzeit of the Chabad emissary to the United Arab Emirates, Rabbi Zvi Kogan.

The following is a beautiful story about Rabbi Kogan shared by his friend, Rabbi Chaim Heber.

There’s a funny story about the time Zvi carpooled from Russia to Ukraine to deliver a van full of wine.

He had heard that in Uman, where tens of thousands gather every year for Rosh Hashanah, there was a shortage of wine. At the time, he was in Russia. So he loaded up a carpool van with cases of wine. Along the way, he kept paying the driver extra to ensure he wouldn’t stop to pick up more passengers, as the van was completely packed with wine. They drove straight through the 20-hour journey to Uman to ensure they made it in time for the holiday, where Zvi distributed the wine to elevate the Rosh Hashanah experience for everyone there.

This wasn’t even remarkable for Zvi—it was just how he lived his life.

It’s no accident that Zvi took responsibility for providing kosher food in the UAE. The kosher grocery store he ran became his way of meeting and interacting with every Jew. If a visitor was arriving late at night, he would stay open for them. No effort was too great, and no detail too small. Every person mattered.

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