Customs of a Groundbreaking Ceremony
When beginning construction of a new building it has become customary to hold a ceremony called Hanachas Even Hapinah (laying the cornerstone or foundation stone). In doing so we are emulating Hashem, Who founded the world on the even shesiyah, the stone shemimenah hushsas haolam (upon which the world was founded). This custom is based on psukim (verses) in Tanach (the Bible), and also found in the Zohar, where it says that when one begins construction they should verbalize that the purpose of the building is to serve Hashem. They should resolve that they will make it a place of Torah study, davening (prayer), and doing mitzvos. It is also an opportune time to say Divrei Torah (words of Torah) and thank Hashem for enabling them to build this new structure. There are those who developed a “custom” of writing a scroll of parchment and inserting it into the ground either above or below the foundation stone. This custom does not have a source in Torah and should not be practiced. Certainly writing such a scroll in ksav ashuris (the holy script unique to the Torah) is inappropriate, but one should refrain from writing it in regular script, as well. This custom falls under the category of, “ Kol hamosif goraya” (all who add—ultimately detract); these “additions” only detract from our authentic traditional Torah true customs. In our generation in particular we have to be especially cautious about introducing new customs that have no authentic Torah source. #396