The Yidden had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moshe. Moshe saw all the work, and behold – they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moshe blessed them. (39:43) Rashi explains AND Moshe BLESSED THEM — He said to them “May it be the will of Hashem that His Shechinah rest upon the work of your hands; ‘and let the beauty of the Lord our Hashem be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us’” (Psalms 90:17.) This (from mrep idie onward) is part of one of the eleven chapters in Tehilim (90—100) that are in the section beginning with, dynl dltz
(Bamidbar Rabbah 12:9)
The significance of Chapter 91, also known as Shir Shel Pega’im (“song against demons”), is a Shemira from demons, and we recite it every night at Krias Shema before we go to bed, as it will be a Shemira for us. We also say it Motzei Shabbos after Maariv, as it should be a Shemira for the following week. There are several explanations in Kabbalah for the potency of the psalm: This was a true gift of a blessing that the Yidden should be protected from the demons.
There is another deep meaning of Moshe’s blessing to the Yidden: “May it be Hashem’s will that His Presence rests in the work of your hands.” Hashem does not dwell in things – not on Mount Sinai, not in the Tablets, not in the Tabernacle. His Presence (the word Shechinah, Divine Presence, comes from the same root as Mishkan, Sanctuary or Tabernacle) lives in “the work of our hands” – whatever we do in accordance with His will. There was nothing grand about the Tabernacle. It was small, fragile, portable. What made it holy was one thing only, that the Yidden “had made it just as Hashem had commanded”. The simplest human act, if done for the sake of Hashem, has more sanctity than the holiest of holy objects. That, is a remarkable principle of faith. When we daven or learn Torah or give tzedaka with the true intention of doing it to fulfil the will of Hashem, we merit that the shechina will rest upon us. This would bring a bond between us and Hashem. We would become holy, as Hashem rests only on holy places. Also the prayers would be answered, as Hashem is within you.
The remarkable thing that Moshe observed at the conclusion of the Mishkan and the clothing for the Kohanim, that every Yid intended to do the will of Hashem. This was no easy task, as the tendency of people is, when they give up their time or donate gold and silver, or large donations to tzedaka, there is a trickle of self satisfaction or giving in order to get respect. Yet here every Yid put his egos aside, and donated solely to do the will of Hashem. Moshe was so moved by this, and he gave the bracha to have the Shechina rest on every Yid. This in essence made every Yid into a Mishkon.
There can be another insight, since we wash our hands before eating bread, since the hands are most susceptible to receiving Tumah. Therefore, we wash our hands to become pure and holy. The hands are important. (Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
