Laying of the Cornerstone, 1967

Transcript

Rabbi Wilfred Shuchat: Page 109, in the standard prayerbook

[Mincha service begins, Chazzan Mendeslon begins chanting in Hebrew]

[Chazzan Mendelson recites the Kaddish prayer, choir responds]

[Chazzan Mendelson and choir sing the aleynu prayer]

[Chazzan Mendelson and choir sing y’hi shalom b’cheyleh]

Dr. Harry Ballon: Fellow congregants, friends, for the members of congregation Shaar Hashomayim, which came into being 120 years ago, the oldest and strongest voice of Ashkenazi and Conservative tradition in Canada, this is a most purposeful occasion. In consonance with existing structures, the extension, and new additions, for which a uniting cornerstone is being laid today, are truly beautiful to behold and exceed our fondest expectations. Of greater import is the understanding that the renovated and new facilities were designed to stimulate the entire never-ending process of spiritual enrichment. Those responsible for the genesis and carrying out of the undertaking are possessed of firm convictions and an abiding faith. Bound by the strongest of forces, say common devotion, they recognize the need for our present and tomorrows to collaborate with what must continue to endure of our past.

For too long and too often, what deserves to take place in its entirety within the confines of a synagogue is being partitioned. The ceremonial part takes place in the house of assembly, the equally important social component is scheduled elsewhere. With pride and heritage second to none, we have fashioned according to our spiritual, educational, and not the least, social needs. We have thereby striven to narrow the gap between spiritually and socially related streams. The union, or at the very least convergence of both streams, can facilitate the deepening and lengthening of the sakes we seek to safeguard. What they image can at the same time remain compatible with everchanging meaningful contemporary living as Canadian Jewish citizens. We rejoice greatly in the knowledge that our new facilities were erected during our Canadian centennial year in which we all take justifiable pride. On a future occasion, members deserving of special recognition for their outstanding efforts in the present undertaking will be honoured. By adding a strong branch to our arbei vitae, we have kept faith with our forefathers who contributed so much to our personality. Hopefully, we are pointing in the direction of the gate which leads from knowledge to wisdom. Of this I am confident, namely, that when you view and make use of all facilities you will derive the inner satisfaction and equanimity which comes from being an integral part of all you see, so full of promise for the future.

Rabbi Wilfred Shuchat: We are met today to rededicate our synagogue, but in truth one cannot really dedicate a synagogue. One can only dedicate people, human lives, and we rededicate our people through these newly renovated and newly extended buildings to the purpose for which Congregation Shaar Hashomayim was established: to God and to His Torah, to His specific commandments to the fellowship of Israel, and to the universal message of the Torah for all mankind. We have now enlarged this sanctuary to meet the demands and growing needs of our membership. We have replaced the chapel with larger quarters for daily and Sabbath services and for Junior Congregation. We have added ancillary facilities for education and social gatherings, and a library-museum that will very greatly enrich our community. However, we do not merely celebrate the fact that we have added to our congregational possessions, a crucial question will always be – what will possess us? And we hope and pray it will be the quest for Torah, for righteousness, for learning, and for the doing of good deeds. In one respect, this ceremony will differ from similar occasions in the history of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. We will be using a stone especially brought over from Jerusalem as the cornerstone of our new extension. In normal times this would be the great symbol of the bridge that unites every Jew with the Holy Land of Israel. In these quite extraordinary times in which we live, which has seen the Western Wall of the Temple reunited with its people, this stone from Jerusalem testifies to the identity of spiritual purpose, that animates Jews all over the world to remember Jerusalem above our chiefest joy. At this moment of such great historical significance for all of us, we pray we might be blessed with the blessing of Moses – which he uttered at a similar occasion in the history of biblical Israel: y’hi ratzon sh’tishre schechina v’maasei yadeinu – may it be God’s will that His heavenly presence might alight within our midst to bless us. Amen.

Dear friends, at this point in our service there will be a recessional to the front entrance of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim where there will take place the actual affixing of this stone of which I spoke and of certain documents which will be inserted behind that stone.

Maxwell Cummings: It is now my pleasure to call upon Dr. Ballon, the president of the Congregation, who will be assisted by Horace Cohen, OBE, and M. J. Heillig, our esteemed honourary presidents, to lay the cornerstone which was especially imported from Jerusalem. I thank you.

Dr. Harry Ballon: We unite the old with the new and rededicate ourselves to Congregation Shaar Hashomayim and what it stands for, and declare this cornerstone duly laid.

Rabbi Wilfred Shuchat: v’yehi noam hashem alokeyne aleynu, u’maasei yadeinu, knonena aleynu, u’ma’asie yadeinu koneney’hu.

May the sweetness of the Lord our God alight upon us all, may He establish firmly the work of our hands, yea the work of our hands may He firmly establish. Amen.