Video: How Albert Einstein Was Offered To Become President Of Israel, And Why It Never Happened
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Despite the fact that now Albert Einstein is famous primarily as a theoretical physicist, during his life the scientist also devoted a lot of time to humanistic movements and politics, so at some point he was even offered to become the president of Israel.
Undoubtedly, the main reason that Albert Einstein (German Albert Einstein) turned to the topic of politics and humanism, were the events preceding the Second World War and, in fact, the war itself. “Until recently, I lived in Switzerland, and while I was there, I did not recognize my Jewishness,” Einstein wrote. “When I came to Germany, I first learned that I was a Jew, and more non-Jews than Jews helped me to make this discovery … Then I realized that only a joint business, which would be dear to all Jews in the world, could lead to the revival of the people. If we did not have to live among intolerant, soulless and cruel people, I would be the first to reject nationalism in favor of universal humanity."
When the Nazis came to power in Germany, Einstein and his family had to leave their beloved Germany. The scientist began to receive threats, his works were declared "wrong", explaining that "the Germans are unworthy to be spiritual followers of a Jew."
Einstein went overseas to the United States, where he began working at Princeton University. Seeing that Nazism was gaining momentum in Germany, the scientist, even in his hearts, renounced German citizenship and membership in the German academies of sciences. Einstein's two cousins, who remained in Germany, died in concentration camps, so the scientist cut off all contacts with his homeland for a while, not wanting to have anything to do with it.
However, this was not the first time a scientist crossed the ocean. In 1921, Einstein was also in America to help raise funds to open a university in Israel. “For this purpose, as a famous person, I must serve as a bait … On the other hand, I do everything I can for my fellow tribesmen, who are treated so badly everywhere,” the scientist explained his act.
Besides the fact that Einstein, along with Sigmund Freud, co-founded the University in Jerusalem (he later lectured there), he also contributed to the creation of the University on Mount Scopus and the Technion (Institute of Technology) in Haifa.
To some extent, Einstein can be considered the founder of modern Israeli science. Moreover, he warmly welcomed the formation of the State of Israel itself. If it were not for the German fascists, perhaps he would not have attached much importance to the issue of nationalism, but circumstances made Einstein an ardent supporter of Zionism.
So in 1952, then Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion invited the scientist to become the second president of Israel. The proposal was formal and absolutely serious, but Einstein replied: "I am deeply moved by the proposal of the State of Israel, but with regret and regret I must reject it." The scientist explained his refusal by the fact that he simply did not have the experience necessary for this position, especially the experience of working with people.
In our article “The Great and the Terrible,” you can learn more about Albert Einstein's two strange marriages.
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