In this week's Parashah, Parashat Shemini, the Torah discusses, among other things, Aharon HaKohen and sons beginning to perform the Avodah. In the beginning of Rishon the Torah says: ׳׳וי֣אמר מש֔ה ז֧ה הדב֛ר אשר ־צו֥ה ה׳ תעש֑ו ויר֥א אליכ֖ם כב֥וד ה׳׳ “And Moshe said: this is what Hashem commanded you and the presence of Hashem will appear before you” (VaYikra 9:6). Why is Moshe telling this to Aharon and Klal Yisrael? They already know that Moshe is speaking from Hashem and that by doing Hashem’s will they will be Zocheh to Hashra’at HaShecinah.

Rav Aharon Pessin, in his Sefer להשתבח בתהלתך, explains that this Pasuk has a much deeper meaning. The Gemara (Nedarim 81a) teaches us that the first Beit HaMikdash was destroyed because Klal Yisrael did not recite Birchat HaTorah. The ר׳׳ן on that Gemara explains that the Torah was not sufficiently Chashuv, or important, in the eyes of Klal Yisrael. Similarly, the Gemara (Yoma 9b) explains that the second Beit HaMikdash was destroyed because of a lack of Achdut between the members of Klal Yisrael. 

Rav Pessin explains that Moshe Rabbeinu was trying to hint to how Hashra’at HaShechinah could be accomplished. The word “ז֧ה” which we saw earlier has the Gematria of 12, or י׳׳ב. This is a hint to the Achdut that needs to be felt between all twelve of the Shevatim. Similarly, the Gematria of the word “צו֥ה” is one hundred and one, a hint to the Gemara (Chagigah 9b) that says that to acquire Torah you need to review it one hundred and one times. Rav Pessin bridges these two words with the end of the Pasuk. If you do these things, if you have Achdut and learn Torah, ׳׳תעשו׳׳, then you will be Zocheh to Hashra’at HaShecinah ׳׳ויר֥א אליכ֖ם כב֥וד ה׳׳. This is an incredible lesson to be learned, as it is only when we serve Hashem together as brothers that we can really connect to Him in the greatest way possible.