Nashville Chabad Breaks Ground

On Sunday afternoon, the 19th of Elul, 5770, Chabad of Nashville celebrated a very special milestone. The foundation stone was set for the new Genesis Campus for Jewish Life at the groundbreaking ceremony, led by Shluchim Rabbi Yitzchok and Esther Tiechtel.

The event was attended by many dignitaries, including Nashville’s Mayor, Mr. Karl Dean, United States Congressman, Mr. Jim Cooper, Rabbi Levi Klein, Head Shliach to the state of Tennessee, Rabbi Shlomo Rothstein, the Shliach to Vanderbilt University, leaders from the Jewish Federation, and the JCC, rabbis from various congregations, and close to 200 friends of Chabad of Nashville.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in a beautiful white tent and surrounded by trees and nature. The tent is on newly cleared land of the nine acres purchased by Chabad for the Genesis Campus for Jewish Life.

Nashville’s Mayor addressed the crowd, telling everyone how proud he is that Chabad is building this new center. Following the disastrous floods the people of Nashville experienced, this really shows how the people came together to show support for one another. He thanked the Shluchim for all that they have done to make Nashville a better city, establishing Chabad here over ten years ago. The mayor concluded saying that he looks forward to being back for the building dedication and the ribbon cutting ceremony!

Congressman Cooper addressed the many guests, declaring that this new center is a blessing to all people of Tennessee, and is especially significant, as our community has been hit so very hard during the recent floods. This shows the world how we are rebuilding, and making our city the great one it is. He also mentioned that this is not only beneficial to the Jewish community, but to the city, the state, and the entire south! He wished blessings of much continued success to Chabad of Nashville.

Rabbi Levi Klein, the head Shliach to Tennessee, shared his greetings on behalf of Chabad Lubavitch International, and thanked all of the Chabad supporters. The ceremony closed with the keynote by Shliach Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel. He spoke about how Chabad is turning a new page in the second decade of service to the greater community of Nashville. With heartfelt appreciation, Rabbi Tiechtel thanked the mayor, the many supporters of Chabad, his family, and the Rebbe, and then sounded the Shofar for all.

This was followed by the actual groundbreaking ceremony, as the mayor and Congressman laid the foundation stone in the newly overturned earth. The stone comes from Germany, a remnant from the pre-WWII era. Main benefactors of the new Chabad Center, Boaz and Tali Ramon, were honored with laying a stone from Jerusalem, which represents Jewish life today in the Holy Land of Israel. This new building will be a literal connection–one generation to the next.

With great happiness, everyone enjoyed refreshments and L’Chaim following the ceremony, and went home with a gift of a bottle of honey for a sweet new year.