At the ceremony of laying the foundation-stones those present included, besides the members of the Zionist Commission, the Commander-in-Chief and senior members of his staff, the Military Governor of _Jerusalem_, staff representatives of the French and Italian military detachments in Palestine and other officers, the _Mufti_ of _Jerusalem_, Bishop MacInnes, Anglican Bishop of _Jerusalem_, the representatives of the Armenian and Greek Churches, the Mayor and Vice-Mayor of _Jerusalem_, Baron and Baroness Felix Menasce of Alexandria, Maurice Cattaui _Pacha_, President of the Cairo Jewish Community, Mr. Victor Mosseri, the Chief _Rabbis_ of Cairo and Alexandria, the _Sephardi_ and _Ashkenazi_ Chief _Rabbis_, and representatives of all Jewish organizations and committees in _Jerusalem_, _Jaffa_, and the colonies. The day was declared a public Jewish holiday in _Jerusalem_, and a crowd numbering about six thousand people witnessed the ceremony. After the ceremony had been opened by a chant of praise, Dr. Weizmann laid the first foundation-stone of the University on behalf of the Zionist Organization. He was followed by the two Chief _Rabbis_ of _Jerusalem_ and the heads of the United Council, who laid a stone on behalf of the _Jerusalem_ Community. The _Mufti_ then laid a stone, and was followed by the Anglican Bishop. Stones were also laid on behalf of the following: The Zionist Organization, the Jewish Regiment, Baron Edmond _de_ Rothschild, the town of _Jaffa_, the Colonies, _Hebrew_ Literature, _Hebrew_ Teachers, _Hebrew_ Science, Jewish Artisans and Labourers, Isaac Goldberg (whose generosity it was that provided so largely for the purchase of the site), and the Future Generations. Dr. Weizmann then added his signature to a parchment scroll inscribed with the blessing:¹ ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם שהחינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה׃ ¹ “Blessed art Thou O! Lord our God, King of the Universe who hast preserved us alive, and sustained us and brought us to (_enjoy_) this season.”