By' Philip Jews in Many Lands
SIOMOVitZ Honor Memory of
Warsaw Martyrs
ame the Nazi onslaught, and Einstein was compelled
Purely Commentary
Einstein's Attitude to
Governments Was 'Like
o vaternor P phets'
Th
Then
"Einstein on Peace" a Great Literary Classic
prepare e g s, t o agree - to efforts for defense against
"Eitin
ns e on Peace" is a classic work. Containing the ‘gir
scientist's view on peace, on Israel and Zionism on the Arab and 'the German menace that was threatening the world.
,"The war of annihilation against • my defenseless fellow
other problems, this book, edited by Otto Nathan and Heinz
Norden, published by Simon and Schuster (630 5th, N.Y. 20), Jews compels me to employ, in their behalf, whatever• influ-
contains, in addition to a lengthy introduction by Otto Nathan, ence I may possess in the eyes of the world," he - then
declared.
• -
a preface by Bertrand Russell.
Dr. Stephen S. Wise then was engaged in controversy with
Einstein is described by Russell as having cared, throughout
his life, for the individual and for individual liberty." The great Dr. Cyrus Adler, who _ differed with the, former's anti-German
philosopher speaks of the great scientist as having been "an campaign. On June 6, 1933, Einstein wrote to Wise:
• "Those activities of Jews outside Germany. which become
extraordinary satisfactory human being." RuSsell states that "in
spite of his genius and his -fame," Einstein "always behaved public knowledge may, on the one hand, make an impression
with complete simplicity and never seemed_ to be claiming - upon - the German government; on the • other hand, they may
serve . as pretext for their. anti-Seniitic 'prov -ocdtions and as
-
any superiority."
justification for the reign of error against German- Jews--
• He adds. that Einstein "had small respect for the Big
—
Battalions, and his attitude to governments was very like that
.
•of the Hebrew prophets." -
O
Nathan's introduction describes ,Einstein as a lonely man.
Buf it never mattered to him whether he was approached by a
prominent personality or someone unknown to him when it was
necessary to lend his efforts to urgent causes. He then would
act "without delay, always sensitive to the feelings of anyone who
communicated with him . . . The causes to which he lent support
could not suffer any delay; they were all urgent: civil liberties,
democracy, socialist, the Jewish problem, social and economic
justice, and general education for a more productive and reward.
ing life."
Since it deals With "Einstein on Peace," it is appropriate
that this impressive work of more' than 700 pages should com-
mence with a review of Einstein's views on war, with a 'chapter
on "The Reality of War." There follow the accounts of hope and
disillusionment, of the revolution in Germany, the role-played by
Walther Rathenau and his comment, as early as 1922: "Anti-
Semitism is very widespread."
Nevertheless, it is quite possible that demonstrations of pro-
test by American Jews may be an important factor in
ing the sentiments on non-Jews in America so that they , too
may oppose those who are now in power in Germany . ."
Einstein favored "well-organized" activities behind the
scenes by the American government and press. Then he warned
that Germans "are secretly arming at a great pace."
Later he joined actively in the campaign against Fascism
and the German terror and in movements to aid the Jewish
refugees.
In the years when he, who was responsible' for bringing
to President Roosevelt's attention the progress towards the
development of the atomic bomb, joined in warning the world
against the threat of atomic warfare and atomic weapons, his
advice was sought on many subjects and he had a stream of
visitors. He retired from the Princeton Institute for -Advanced
Study on April 15, 1945. At that time, the editors of "Einstein
on Peace" wrote:
"His interest in helping secure PaleStine as a homeland
for the Jewish people was as strong as ever; he lent support
to: the Zionist cause whenever he felt it might prove useful,
and did so particularly in the years preceding the actual
establishment of the State of Israel. He also devoted his active
interest to the creation of a Jewish-sponsored university in
America, which was later to become Brandeis University.
He withdrew from these efforts only when his ideas concern-
ing the academic .organization of the institution met great
His major devotion, next to his scientific activities, was to resistance
and when he and his associates in the project
Israel and Zionism and in defense of the Jewish people. In fact,
targets of political vilification—among the earliest
became
the final act in his life was the preparation of a speech he was
of the great wave of reactionary persecution which
to deliver, over radio and television, on Israel's anniversary, in , symptoms,
spread through America during the cold war and -against which
1955: The first page of his speech was preserved. He became
Einstein emerged as one of the great uncompromising fighters
ill and that address never was finished. The portion that he had
for human freedom and decency."
written is reproduced in "Einstein on Peace." Describing the
Asked to become a member of. the League of Nation's
Committee on Intellectual Cooperation, in 1922. Einstein said
"the situation here is such that a Jew would do well to
exercise restraint as regards his participation in political af-
fairs." But Mme. Curie and • Gilbert Murray persuaded him
not to withdraw from the committee: A year later he withdrew
again, only to be renamed by the League.
LONDON, (JTA) — A- mass
meeting commemorating the
Warsaw Ghetto ' uprising 18
years ago, was held here under
the auspices of the Polish-Jewish
ex-Servicemen's Ass ociation in
cooperation with the Board of
Deputies of British Jews, the
World Jewish Congress and the
Association of Jewish ex-Service-
men.
* * *
BRUSSELS, (JTA)—The War-
saw Ghetto revolt was commemo-
rated at a mass meeting here
sponsored- by the Zionist Federa-
tion of Belgium, the Federation
of Former Servicemen and the
Association of Jewish Resistance
Fighters. Earlier, religious serv-
ices were held in synagogues
throughout the country.,
* * -*
HANOVER, (JTA) — Memo-
rial services were held at the
site of the former Bergen-Bel-
sen concentration camp com-
memorating the 16th year of the
liberation of the camp by Allied
forces. Several hundred youths
came - to the Bergen-Belsen site
in honor of Anne Frank, who
.died at the camp.
ISTANBUL, (JTA) — ,Special
prayers were recited in syna-
gogues throughout the country
as the Jewish community - here
ob,served a memorial day for the -
victims of the Nazi holocaust.
Many of the 'synagogues were
crowded to capacity. The local
Jewish, press also published spe-
cial articles - to mark the occa-
sion.
* * *
JOHANNESBURG, (JTA) —
The historic significance of the
Eichmann trial against the back-
ground of the Nazi holocaust
was stressed at meetings through-
out South Africa in memory of
martyred European Jewry. Me-
morial services were held in syn-
agogues.
"Einstein on Peace" gives a full account of the offer that
last thing lw had written, from his hospital bed, in April of
was made to Einstein, upon the death of Chaim Weizmann, to
1955, the authors state:
"Here, the hand that changed the world, and yet, in so become - the President of Israel. Einstein was "at once saddened
many - ways, could not change it, faltered and wrote no more." and ashamed that I cannot accept." He gave his reasons. The
Authors Nathan ,and, Norden, in their account of . the last Jewish people became his "strongest human bond," but as
Einstein -act, in'-behalf of Israel, report- on his meetings with President he would have to accept decisians in matters in which
Israel's Ambassador Abba Eban and the then Israel Consul he disagreed, and there were other reasons. He spoke of Israel's
Reuven Dafni, and his meetings with the Jewish Agency leader,- situation as "our" and of the people as "we." There was no
ZIO Lurie. They wrote this explanatory nate about Einstein's doubt about his devotion. The few• pages devoted to the Israeli
Presidential offer are among the most interesting in the Nathan- 20 British Jews Sent
devotion to Israel:
"This is not the place to discuss in any detail Einstein's Norden edited book.
There are, however, many more things of interest - in this to Warsaw Ghetto Site
single-minded and unqualified identification with. the fate of
LONDON, (JTA) — Two
very
important book. Einstein, for instance, was urged to advo-
the Jewish people. Once he had, a man of over forty and
cate the right to conscientious objection in Israel's military members of Parliament will be
already- world ,famous, become convinced that the survival of
service rules, and he wrote on Feb. 22, 1949: • -
among a party of 20 Jews to
the Jews as a recognizable, independent cultural group
"I should be gratified if the State of Israel were to estab- carry out a pilgrimage to Poland
depended on the establishment of their own national home-
lish a legal basis for the protection of conscientious objectors. this month for the anniversary
land, he never wavered in this belief, - nor in his ever-present
Such a measure would seem to be in harmony with the best of- the Warsaw Ghetto uprising
willingness to lend a helping hand, wherever he felt it might
be.. useful. Long before Israel acqUired statehood and the -Jewish moral traditions. You may feel free to use this state- in which 50,000 Jews perished 18
years ago:
ment in any way you consider desirable, although I strongly
conflict with the Arab world erupted into warfare, Einstein had
The Parliamentary Deputies
believe that I have no right, and that it would be presump-
emphasized, as had many others, that peaceful coexistence
tuous of me, to attempt to advise people who have safely led who will lay a wreath on the
between Arabs and Jews was a prerequisite to the healthy
Warsaw Memorial for the Jewish
our little nation through seemingly insurmountable diffi-
development of a Jewish home in Palestine. It is this thought
martyrs are Sir Barnett Janner,
culties." _ -
which preoccupied him when he wrote the very last lines he
"Einstein on Peace" is a most enlightening and a very president of the Board of Depu-
_ was ever to write."
The genius of Einstein is in evidence in all the movements great literary classic. Library shelves—public and private— ties of British Jews, and Mi-
chael Cliffe.
in •Which he became interested, and in his rejection of calls to Will be impoverished without it.
join others.
,1 When .300 scientists assembled. at Princeton University to
participate in a symposium on Einstein's contributions to science,
on the occasion. of Einstein's '70th-birthday, March 14, 1949, the
Nobel Prize winner, Prof. Isadore Rabi, said that "this significant
celebration of Einstein's 70th birthday is hardly equalled in the
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Sirens brance" was the reinterment wear. Exhibits also were opened
whole history of science, for when was there another man whose
sounded throughout Israel last of the ashes of an unknown in kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot
contribution was so great?"
Einstein's condemnations of Nuism, at the hands of which week to mark two minutes of number of victims in the the Galilee and in kibbutz Yad
he suffered much, was equalled by his impassioned appeals for reverent silence in memory of crypt which has a mosaic in- Mordechai in the Negev, two
peace and disarmament. On one occasion he refused to join a the 6,000,000 European Jewish laid floor bearing the names -settlements associated with the
mo=vement against rearmament of Germany—after World War victims to Nazism as Israel of the 21 most infamous of Warsaw-Ghetto uprising.
The Holocaust Day observ-
II--Cbecause he did not wish such an effOrt to be • limited to formally observed Holocaust the Nazi murder campS and
ance closed with a ceremony
Germany alone. He desired to see a peace effort to embrace Day.
• ghettoes.
the entire world.
All places of entertainment . The urn containing the ashes near the Tent of Remem-
At a meeting of the Joint Peace Council in Geneva, in were closed and the trial of was carried at the head of a brance attended by President
1932, which attracted worldwide attention; newsmen left the Nazi Adolf Eichmann, who is long • cortege. In front of it Ben-Zvi, members of the Cabi-
conference chamber when word was spread that Einstein had charged with primary responsi- walked a cantor who chanted . net and of the linesset,
arrived. "Even some of the delegates decided that a look at the bility for the killing -of the the prayer fora the dead. Para- former anti-Nazi fighters.
Education Minis ter Abba
great man was . worth more than listening to bacteriological 6,000,000 Jews, was recessed for troopers marched behind- the
and aerial discussions." Einstein had no official standing at the the period of mourning. • large urn which was covered by Eban,. delivering 'the principal'
address at the evening event,_
Peace Conference and was not a delegate. But no one disputed
Memorial lights were lit in an Israeli flag.
said that "never in all recorded
his! right to be there except a Balkan delegate who asked:
The Eternal Light was kin- history has any family of the
"Who sent for him? What does he represent? Whom does many thousands of homes to
mourn the murder of a Member dled by Rabbi. Mordechai Nu- human race been Overwhelmed
that Jew represent?"
of the family On a day unknown. rock, the oldest' member of the by such a tidal wave of grief
• The authors report at this point: _
"The Balkan delegate was hushed up. An American Thousands of mourners packed Knesset, Israel's Parliament, and havoc -as that which beset
correspondent actually hit the foci' on the • mouth with the- Israel's synagogues for memor- whose entire family was slaught- the Jewish people during the
ial prayers - which included the ered by the Nazis and who in- Nazi decade," -
_ paper pad in his hand."
Einstein was the great pacifist. He wrote to a Viennese Lamentations. from the Tisha itiated in the Knesset the legis- The former Ambassador to .
lation under which Eichmann the - United. States denounced
author of a book defending Jews against the charge of cowardice, B'Av'service.
. The dedication of a new is on trial.
worldwide expressions of opin-.
on May 1, 1933:
After the ceremony, Dr. Jos.- ion against the preservation and
, "I shall-not object should you decide to dedicate your book shrine on a hilltop three miles
from Jerusalem was the main eph Burg, Israel's Welfare the regular revival of merneries
to me. But I cannot bring myself to write a preface. As an
event of the ceremonies. The Minister, opened a Yad:Vashem of the Nail massacre. He warn-
antimilitarist I am not in the least interested in how Jews behave
shrine is a group -of stone exhibit commemorating t h e ed that "memory is the guar- •
as Soldiers. I can assure you that I should have taken advantage
buildings which include a genocidal deeds of the Nazis.-It dian of conscience. • Whoever
of any and all means for evading military service, had anyOne
ever tried to press me into it. If one desires to be a hero, one crypt;; a memorial hall and a contained. photographs, docu- flees from his memory liberates
should do so by accepting the consequences that will result from - synagogue. Part of the dedica- ments and the yellow Star of himself from the full dictate0
tion for the "Tent of Remem- David the Nazis forced Jews to of his conscience." --
refusing military service."
.
Israel Mourns 6,000,000 European Jewish Victims
to' Nazism in Special. Services on Holocaust Day
,