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Albert Einstein Typed Letter Signed ("A. Einstein"). ...
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Description
Writing six weeks after Kristallnacht, Einstein expresses doubts about the surety of establishing a Jewish state: "I entertain lesser hopes for salvation through a union of the majority of Jews in a single country"
Albert Einstein Typed Letter Signed ("A. Einstein"). Two
pages on his personal blind embossed letterhead, 8 1/2 x 11 inches;
Princeton, New Jersey; December 31, 1938.Einstein writes to Rabbi Salomon Goldman, head of the Zionist Organization of America, expressing conflicted feelings about Zionism and the need for a Jewish state in the face of the growing threat of Nazism. He writes, in part:
"I have just read your book with the greatest interest. It contains the true fire of a prophet; it mercilessly holds a mirror up to people today, Jews and Goyim alike. Your upright courage and optimism are a pleasure to behold in a man to whom nothing human remains foreign, neither in scripture nor in the world.
Almost everything you have expressed speaks directly to my heart. Well, that I entertain lesser hopes for salvation through a union of the majority of Jews in a single country or even a state; no matter how we may think about this, the necessity of earnest striving for such a solution today is unavoidable. One should not think about whether our people in concentration would perhaps develop those dangerous and hideous weaknesses which we despise in our enemies today. The Greeks are probably not met with the warmth and reverence they deserve. I believe that we Jews have been enormously and positively influenced by them due to our shared love for the spirit, to independence in life and thought."
Einstein then comments on recent popular expressions of Jewish nationalism in pageantry and in theatre, noting the danger of transferring such matters to the stage. He closes the letter thanking Goldman for his refreshing views in these adverse times and adds a postscript asking him to respond "concerning the excellent Max Brod." (Brod was an ardent Zionist and writer whose work focused on themes of Jewish identity.)
Einstein had just read Goldman's book Crisis and Decision. The book addressed the necessity for Jews to unify and take decisive actions to ensure their survival and establish a national homeland in Palestine. Goldman emphasized the importance of courage and optimism in the face of adversity and critiqued both Jews and non-Jews for their roles in the ongoing crises.
Einstein writes approximately six weeks after Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), an event that marked a significant escalation of violence by the Nazi's against Jews. Despite his deep mistrust of nationalism, Einstein recognized the importance of the establishment of a Jewish state - a conflict poignantly captured in this letter to Goldman.
Born in 1893, Salomon Goldman rose to prominence as a leader within the Jewish community, eventually becoming the head of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) in 1938. His tenure at the ZOA was marked by vigorous advocacy for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, particularly during the turbulent pre-World War II era. Goldman was also a prolific author, with works such as Crisis and Decision reflecting his deep engagement with Jewish identity and Zionist thought. He was one of many Jewish leaders that Einstein maintained a correspondence with.
Condition: Both pages have flattened folds, light even toning, and paper clip burns at top left. Minor edge chips have been expertly filled in by Japanese paper. Both pages encapsulated in Mylar for preservation.
Auction Info
2024 July 25 Historical Platinum Signature® Auction #6294 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2024
25th
Thursday
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