עַל־מָ֭ה אֲדָנֶ֣יהָ הָטְבָּ֑עוּ א֥וֹ מִֽי־יָ֝רָ֗ה אֶ֣בֶן פִּנָּתָֽהּ׃
אױף װאָס זײַנען אירע גרונטמױערן אַרױפֿגעזעצט?אָדער װער האָט געלײגט איר װינקלשטײן?
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Ib b) "A stone, Shethia." We are taught: It is called Shethia (foundation stone) because from it the world has been created. This statement is according to the one who says that the creation of the world began with Zion, for we are taught in a Baraitha: R. Eliezer says: "The world has been created beginning with the centre, as it is said (Job 38, 38) When the dust is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cling fast together [first the center piece was created, then the other parts adhered to it] ." R. Joshua said: "The world has been created beginning with the extremities, as it is said (Ib. 37, 6) For to the snow he saith. Be thou earth. Like-rains of his strength." R. Isaac said: "The wise to the pouring rain, to the pouring Holy One, praised be He! threw a stone into the sea, in a spot whence the world was created, as it is said (Ib. 38, 6) Upon what are her foundation pillars placed at rest? Or who threw her corner stone?" The sages, however, said: "The world was created beginning with Zion, as it is said (Ps. 50, 1-2) A Psalm of Assaph, the God of Gods. the Lord speaketh, and calleth the earth, from the rising of the sun until its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God dazzleth forth; i.e., from Zion began to spread beauty to the whole world." We have been taught: R. Eliezer says: "(Gen. 2, 4) These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, on the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven; i.e., the luminous stars, etc., were created from the heavens, and all earthly things from the earth." But the sages say: "These and those [both] were created from Zion, as it is said (Ps. 50, 1) A Psalm of Assaph, the God of Gods, etc., and again (Ib.) Out of Zion the perfection of beauty; i.e., from it (Zion) was created the beauty of the (entire) world."