Discover and learn every week, "5 Facts" written on the weekly Parshah that you can share at your Shabbos table.

1.     How many Red Cows were there in history?

• There were 9 red cows from the time Torah was given until the destruction of the second Beit Hamikdash. The first one was Moshe’s, then there was one in the days of Ezra, two in the days of  Shimon Hatzaddik, two in the days of  Yochanan the High Priest, one in the days of Eliyahu, one in the days of  Chanamel the Egyptian and one in the days of  Yishamel, son of Piabi. The 10th one will be in the days of  Moshiach. (Rambam, Bachya, see Parah Ch. 3)

2.     Where did the rock originated from?

• From the word “Haselah/*The* rock”we learn that this rock was created to provide water and was previously used for this purpose. This rock was the one that provided Hagar with water when Ishmael was dying of thirst. As mentioned, it was also the rock that served as the “well of Miriam” and was also the rock that Moshe was told to speak to for water after Miriam’s passing.  This rock was hidden from us.  Some say that this rock was the same rock from which Moshe brought forth water the first time. (Ramban, Meam Loez)

3.     What happened when Moshe hit the rock?

• Moshe went from rock to rock saying the words Hashem had told him to use but he was unable to find the right one. He therefore thought that maybe he was supposed to hit the rock as he was told to do  the first time (Exodus 17:6). When Moshe raised his arm to strike it, Hashem placed the correct rock in front of him and he hit it causing the rock to release several drops of blood before the water flowed. According to another opinion, when Moshe first hit the rock only a few drops of water came out. A number of scoffers made fun of this. After Moshe struck the rock a second time, so much water came out that it drowned them. (Nachalat Yaakov, Meam Loez)

4.     What was Moshe’s mistake when hitting the rock?

• On one side of Moshe’s staff was inscribed the Name which had the power to dry water and had been used to split the Red Sea. On the  other side of the staff was inscribed  the Name which had the power to bring forth water. But in his anger against the Jews for rebelling, Moshe mistakenly first hit the rock with the wrong side. (Yalkut Reuveni, Kli Yakar)

1.     Why would Moshe suddenly be afraid of anyone, let alone Og?

• We see that Moshe asked for special protection  from Og. Moshe, being a reincarnation of Noach, believed that no one would harm him in appreciation to Noach who saved their ancestors from the flood. Og, however, survived on his own by  holding on to the outside the Ark. As such, Og did not feel a sense of gratitude or appreciation to Noach, or by extension to Moshe, and so Moshe was worried that he may harm him.  (Mishnat Hagilgulim p.9, Tzidkat HaTzadik Ot 96/ Nidah 51a)