Laying the cornerstone for 770 Kfar Chabad

00:00 The mara d’asra, the esteemed Rabbi Ashkenazi; the mashpia Rabbi Futerfas; Rabbi Grossman; Kohen Gudnik; Kohen Menachem Lerer; and Levi Shish[unclear]. Mr. Davidovitch, Mr. Dviri[unclear], Menashe Moshe[unclear], the spiritual committee, the Kfar Chabad committee, and all our fellow chassidim—please come forward to pour the cornerstone. And with your permission, my teachers and gentlemen, the young schoolchildren Shabtai Friedman, Chaim Brod, Benny Chimi, Yedidya Hassan Hassin and Yitzchak Roitblatt, Yosef Chaim Bolton, Michael Sharna Rov[unclear] and David Rosenzweig, Schneur Greenberg, Shimon Gofin, Shlomo Beizer, Shaike Alperovitch and Mendy Hecht—please come forward to pour the cornerstone. Afterward, the entire congregation will be invited. But please come up in order, without crowding; there is room for everyone. Right now, we feel something truly special. We have had many joyous cornerstone-laying ceremonies in Kfar Chabad, and later we also merited to take part in the dedications of large buildings for Torah study and prayer. But we have never yet merited a privilege like this, and I doubt anyone ever has. Every one of us heard the Rebbe shlita speak at the farbrengen connected with 12 Tammuz, when he announced that he wanted to build in Kfar Chabad a building like the one known throughout the world—770 Eastern Parkway. Such a building in Kfar Chabad would be a center for spreading the wellsprings of Torah and Chassidus throughout Eretz Yisroel. These words were spoken in connection with the liberation of the Frierdiker Rebbe, whose liberation and celebration we were marking then. And indeed, boruch Hashem, within a short time we have merited to come together joyfully to carry out the Rebbe shlita’s wish in practice and lay the cornerstone. The cornerstone will be laid by young children, by schoolchildren, as the Rebbe shlita specifies in his letter printed in Likkutei Sichos. He notes that the cornerstone should be laid by schoolchildren, citing the Gemara in Tractate Shabbos:

03:39 The world stands on the breath of schoolchildren’s mouths. The cornerstone is the foundation. “Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone, a sure foundation.” From here the Rebbe shlita draws the basis for laying a cornerstone.

00:01 Speaker 1 Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she has placed her young, near Your altars, Hashem of Hosts, my King and my G-d. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house; they will praise You forever. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house; they will praise You forever. Fortunate is the person whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the pathways. Fortunate is the person whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the pathways. Passing through the valley of tears, they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings. Passing through the valley of tears, they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; each appears before G-d in Zion. Hashem, G-d of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, G-d of Yaakov, forever. See our shield, O G-d, and look upon the face of Your anointed one. For one day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather stand at the threshold of my G-d’s house than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For Hashem G-d is a sun and a shield; Hashem grants grace and honor. He withholds no good from those who walk with integrity. For Hashem G-d is a sun and a shield; fortunate is the person who trusts in You. Reb Avrum Lider[?], they go from strength to strength. They go from strength to strength, they go from strength to strength. Each appears, each appears before G-d in Zion. See our shield, O G-d. Excuse me. See, O G-d, and look, and look upon the face of Your anointed one. Ai, ai, ai, ai. See our shield, O G-d, see our shield, O G-d, and look, and look upon the face of Your anointed one. Hei, ai, dai, dadi, ai, ai, ai, adad, di, dai, di, di, mai, dai, ai, dai, ai, da, di, rai, da, yay, aya, yay, da, dei, ai, yai, yam. Ai, ai, ai, see our shield, O G-d, see our shield, O G-d, and look, and look upon the face of Your anointed one. Ai, ai, ai, ai, see our shield, O G-d, see our shield, O G-d, and look, and look upon the face of Your anointed one. Oy, ai, dada, dida, ai, dai, dida, didai, dai, tilililim, ai, dais, Bowie, ai, dadi, dai, di, di, ai, yai, ai, ai, ai, ai, dei, dei, dei, dei. Hmm. See our shield, O G-d, see our shield, O G-d, and look, and look upon the face of Your anointed one. Oh, ai, ai, ai, ai, see our shield, O G-d, see our shield, O G-d, and look, and look upon the face of Your anointed one. Ai, ai.

06:04 Speaker 1 Ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, tilililim, ai, di, di, di, hei, ya-da-yi-ai-yai-yai-yai-yai-ya, di, di, di, ai, yay, yay, yay, yay!

06:18 Speaker 2 Words of blessing from the local rabbi, Rabbi Ashkenazi. Please. L’chaim, l’chaim. It is very difficult to speak. I think that all of us, right now, at this moment, feel something extraordinary. We have had many joyous occasions when laying foundation stones, and afterward we were also privileged to take part in the dedications of buildings—large buildings for Torah and prayer—here in Kfar Chabad. But we have never yet had a privilege like this, and I doubt whether anyone ever has. Every one of us heard the Rebbe shlita’s words at the farbrengen connected with Yud-Beis Tammuz, when he announced that he wanted to build in Kfar Chabad a building like the one known and famous throughout the world: 770 Eastern Parkway. To build such a building in Kfar Chabad, which would be a center for spreading the wellsprings of Torah and Chassidus throughout Eretz Yisroel. And those words were spoken in connection with the liberation of the Frierdiker Rebbe, whose liberation and celebration we were marking then. And indeed, boruch Hashem, we have been privileged, within a short time, to come together joyfully to put the Rebbe shlita’s wish into actual practice and lay a foundation stone. The laying of the foundation stone will be done by young children, by schoolchildren, as the Rebbe shlita notes in his letter printed in Likkutei Sichos: the foundation stone should be laid by schoolchildren. He cites the Gemara in Shabbos, that the world stands on the breath of schoolchildren. The cornerstone is the foundation. And he quotes the verse in Isaiah, chapter 28—and by Divine providence, these verses came in the continuation of the haftorah of Parshas Shemos, which we read last Shabbos—“Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone, a firm foundation.” From this the Rebbe shlita draws support for laying a foundation stone. Perhaps those words were said outside Eretz Yisroel, at the laying of a foundation stone for some great building where Torah and prayer would flourish. But now, at this gathering, we feel especially the meaning of the words the Rebbe wrote then: “Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone.” This cornerstone

10:38 Speaker 2 will be the foundation—and not merely a foundation, but “a firm foundation.” The prophet repeats his words. The commentators say and explain: a strong, sound foundation. Just as, to erect a large building, it was customary in those days to lay a stone, and the stronger and larger the stone, the more firmly the building would stand afterward. That, the Rebbe shlita says there, is the meaning of laying a foundation stone. We are now, as the Rebbe’s emissaries, laying the foundation, carrying out his words by laying a cornerstone in Zion. Through this, what is stated further in the verse will be fulfilled: “For Torah shall go forth from Zion, and the word of Hashem from Jerusalem.” But the commentators there explain something more, beyond the plain meaning. “Behold, I lay a stone in Zion” means a building stone. The commentators explain that the stone refers to Moshiach. And more is said about the verse “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” At first glance, according to the plain meaning, “the stone the builders rejected” refers, as the commentators explain, to the Jewish people, who were like a stone rejected by the builders and afterward merited to become the cornerstone. But the Targum explains “the stone the builders rejected” there as the descendants of the house of Yishai. Yishai’s descendants were not such a well-known family in Israel, yet they became the cornerstone. This stone that the builders rejected later became the foundation for the revelation of Moshiach. That is what the Targum says there about this verse. And the commentators also clarify the verse the Rebbe quotes: “Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone.” It means a strong stone, a stone that cannot be moved; and nothing is stronger than a king of Israel, and no king more so than Moshiach. Furthermore, the Rebbe shlita says that when laying the cornerstone, it is fitting to use stones and not bricks. We learned the difference between stones and bricks in last week’s parsha. A stone is

14:01 Speaker 2 made by Heaven. A brick is made by human hands, and so the matter becomes even clearer. “Behold, I lay a stone in Zion”—a stone made by Heaven. It cannot be made by human hands; a person does not have the strength to establish something so strong. It must be a stone made by Heaven. And for that reason, the Rebbe—the Rebbe shlita says that to erect a building, its foundation stone, its cornerstone, must specifically be a stone made by Heaven. And as though to make the matter still clearer, it is explained there who should do it: the children. We have no understanding and no explanation for the great things being done here. But one thing: let us be like schoolchildren, who do as they are told immediately, and on whom the world stands. May it be Hashem’s will that all of us together merit, very soon, to see the Rebbe shlita lay a stone in Zion, and may we all merit the true and complete Geulah with the Rebbe shlita at our head. L’chaim, l’chaim! From words of Torah to words of Torah and prayer spoken by schoolchildren. Before we proceed to lay the foundation stone, verses from the schoolchildren. The first—

16:01 Speaker 5 Torah.

16:02 Speaker 6 Torah.

16:03 Speaker 5 commanded.

16:04 Speaker 6 commanded.

16:05 Speaker 5 us.

16:06 Speaker 6 us.

16:07 Speaker 5 Moshe.

16:08 Speaker 6 Moshe.

16:09 Speaker 5 An inheritance.

16:10 Speaker 6 An inheritance.

16:11 Speaker 5 The congregation of.

16:12 Speaker 6 The congregation of.

16:12 Speaker 5 Yaakov.

16:13 Speaker 6 Yaakov. Hear.

16:18 Speaker 5 Hear.

16:19 Speaker 6 Israel.

16:20 Speaker 5 Israel.

16:22 Speaker 6 Hashem is our G-d.

16:26 Speaker 5 Hashem is our G-d.

16:27 Speaker 6 Hashem is One.

16:28 Speaker 5 Hashem is One.

16:30 Speaker 6 Hashem is One.

16:37 Speaker 5 In every generation, a person is obligated to see himself as though he personally left Egypt.

16:55 Speaker 6 All Israel.

16:56 Speaker 5 All Israel.

16:58 Speaker 6 have.

16:58 Speaker 5 have.

16:58 Speaker 6 for themselves.

16:59 Speaker 5 for themselves.

17:00 Speaker 6 a share.

17:01 Speaker 5 a share.

17:01 Speaker 6 in the World.

17:02 Speaker 5 in the World.

17:03 Speaker 6 to Come.

17:03 Speaker 5 to Come.

17:04 Speaker 6 As it is said.

17:05 Speaker 5 As it is said.

17:06 Speaker 6 And your people.

17:07 Speaker 5 And your people.

17:07 Speaker 6 all of them.

17:08 Speaker 5 all of them.

17:08 Speaker 6 are righteous.

17:09 Speaker 5 are righteous.

17:10 Speaker 6 Forever.

17:10 Speaker 5 Forever.

17:11 Speaker 6 they shall inherit.

17:12 Speaker 5 they shall inherit.

17:12 Speaker 6 the land.

17:14 Speaker 5 the land.

17:15 Speaker 6 The branch.

17:15 Speaker 5 The branch.

17:17 Speaker 6 of My planting, the work of My hands, in which to take pride. For the matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it. And behold, Hashem stands over him, and His glory fills the whole earth; He looks upon him and examines his innermost thoughts and heart to see whether he serves Him as he should. In the beginning, G-d created the heavens and the earth. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit in your home, when you walk on the way, when you lie down and when you rise. If someone says, “I toiled but did not find,” do not believe him. “I did not toil but found,” do not believe him. “I toiled and found”—believe him. And you shall love your fellow as yourself. Rabbi Akiva says: This is a great principle of the Torah. And this is the whole purpose of man, and the purpose of his creation and the creation of all the worlds, upper and lower: that He should have a dwelling in the lower realms. “Let Israel rejoice in its Maker”—meaning that everyone descended from Israel should rejoice in Hashem’s joy, for He rejoices and delights in His dwelling in the lower realms. Long live our master, teacher and Rebbe. Long live our master, teacher and Rebbe. Long live our master, teacher and Rebbe. We want—

20:45 Speaker 7 We have heard words of Torah and words of prayer, and at the request of many, at this holy gathering, let everyone set aside money for tzedakah, bringing Torah, prayer and tzedakah together in one place. “He causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall.” In Judaism, the spiritual and the material go together. Hakadosh Boruch Hu says: I will give you material things, and you will turn them into spirituality. And a Jew who helps, and will help, with material matters that are also spiritual. From the tribe of Levi, Mr. Shish[?], a few words of blessing.

21:30 Speaker 8 Mara d’asra, esteemed rabbis, distinguished audience. Hakadosh Boruch Hu granted me the privilege of being among those whose efforts brought us to the point where, today, we are laying the cornerstone for a holy house, a Chabad House. Those who have worked on it until now have done so in accordance with the words and wishes of the Rebbe shlita. I do not know how many of those present know how many difficult and complicated stages this plot of land has gone through in recent years before we managed to reach where we are today. I will say just one thing, based on my experience as district commissioner: many other projects like this would long ago have fallen through; people would have given up and stopped working on them. This project, this land for this holy purpose, has, boruch Hashem, succeeded and reached this point despite all kinds of obstacles. So it seems—and perhaps this shows even more clearly—that when the goal is a holy one, the success is greater. Here is the proof: something that seemed almost impossible has become a reality. I bless all those involved that they succeed, and that, with Hashem’s help, we will soon be present at the dedication of this building and be able to say that it will serve as a beacon for Eretz Yisroel and for the rest of the world. And we will be able to say: “May your wellsprings spread outward.”

23:44 Speaker 9 Thank you very much, and much success. May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days. Please, Rabbi Avraham.

23:52 Speaker 10 May it be Your will, may it be Your will, may it be Your will. May it be Your will, Hashem our G-d and G-d of our fathers, that the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah. May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah; may the Beis Hamikdash be built, our portion in Your Torah. May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah. May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah. May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our por— May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah. May the Beis Hamikdash be built, our portion in Your Torah. May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our day— and grant us our portion in Your Torah. May the Beis Hamikdash be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah. During the week of the Festival of Liberation, we received words from the Rebbe shlita concerning this laying of the cornerstone, which is taking place in the week of 24 Teves. The words were recorded, and with your permission, rabbis and gentlemen, we will hear them as they were spoken by the Rebbe shlita, Molly Gripkin [unclear], and—

28:29 Speaker 11 Ay, ay, ah, hoy, hoy, ay. Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, mama, mama, mam. I am asking the children leaning on the fence, on the board, once again: it could collapse. There is an excavation here. Please move away from the fence; do not lean on it. With your permission, rabbis and gentlemen: the young schoolchildren Shabtai Shridman, Chaim Roth, Binyamin Chaim Yehudi [unclear], Yechia Hassan, Chacham and Yosef Yitzchak Rosenblum, Yosef Chaim Bolton, Michael Sher Nachon [unclear] and David Rosenzweig, Meir Greenberg, Shimon Kofin, Binyamin Beiser, Yitzchak Sarovitz and Meni Yahav—please come forward and pour the cornerstone. Afterward, all of Am Yisroel will be invited to take part. But please come in order, take your turn, and do not push. There is room for everyone. The mara d’asra, esteemed Rabbi Ashkenazi; the mashgiach, Rabbi Popaks; Rabbi Grossman; Kohen Goodnick and Kohen Lehrer; Nachum and Ali Maki [unclear]; Mr. Davidovitch; Mr. Gaviri Menashe Moshe [unclear]; Mr. Haruchani [unclear]; Mr. Tzafa Chabad [unclear]; and all our fellow chassidim—please come forward to pour the cornerstone. Immediately afterward, Maariv will be held in the Beis Menachem synagogue.

36:15 Speaker 3 Now, we want Moshiach. Come [unclear], for, for you have a savior. I believe. I believe in the coming of Moshiach, I believe. We want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now, we want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now, we want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. We want Moshiach, Moshiach now! I believe in the coming of Moshiach, I believe. I believe in the coming of Moshiach, I believe. We want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. We want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. We want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. We want Moshiach, Moshiach now! I believe in the coming of Moshiach, I believe. I believe in the coming of Moshiach, I believe. Hey, where’s the clapping? Everyone, the whole crowd. Hey, we want Moshiach, everyone together. Hey, we want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. Moshiach now! I believe in the coming of Moshiach, I believe. I believe in the coming of Moshiach, I believe. We want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. We want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. We want Moshiach, we want Moshiach now. Don’t crowd together, don’t push! Two steps back. Two steps back. Two steps back, please. Two steps back, please. There is a danger of people being trampled. Two steps back, please. Please do not push. Please, do not push! That’s how it was—do not push! Everyone, please move back. Everyone, students, please take two steps back; lives are at risk here. Move back immediately, please. Move back and make room for the small children and the older people. Move back, please. Stop pushing. Stop pushing and move back. Move back. We need the crowd to move back a little so people can get to the spot. I cannot get there. We need the crowd to move back for a moment. Please move back. Gentlemen, gentlemen, we cannot go on.

41:28 Speaker 3 Please move.

43:20 Speaker 4 Move, please, just for a moment. Move a little. Rabbi Mordechai Gorodetzky, please, chairman of the Nachlas Chabad committee. Reb Yaakov, the architect, please come for the laying of the cornerstone. Rabbi Mordechai Gorelik, the architect, please come for the laying of the cornerstone. Please allow the honored guests to reach the spot. Rabbi Yehuda Yaroslavsky, rabbi of Nachlas Chabad, please. Rabbi Yochanan Golbi [unclear], please.