Einstein, typescript, 'Antisemitismus und akademische Jugend', 1923

EINSTEIN, ALBERT

Authorial typescript, 'Antisemitismus und akademische Jugend' [Anti-Semitism and Academic Youth], signed ("A. Einstein")

analysing how the pressure from surrounding hostile national cultures have led young emancipated Jewish intellectuals in Europe to attempt assimilation ("...getrieben kehrt er seinem Volke und seinen Traditionen den Rücken und betrachtet sich restlos als zu den andern gehörig, indem er vor sich und den andern vergebens zu verbergen sucht..." [he turns his back on his people and its traditions and regards himself as belonging totally to the others by trying in vain to hide from himself]), but pointing out that intellectual effort will never overcome anti-Semitism ("...denn die Wurzel ihres Verhaltens sitzt nicht im Grosshirn..." [the root of their conduct is not rooted in the cerebrum]), calling instead for Jews to maintain their social difference and distinctiveness, 2 pages, folio (286 x 225mm.), [Berlin, after 15 July 1923], spotting, professionally conserved at folds and edges

This short but incisive reflection on Jewish identity was written in the summer of 1923, just a few months after the scientist’s first and only visit to the Holy Land. Although confident that anti-Semitism as a social evil could be overcome if Jews maintained their own independent social life, Einstein, was well aware that anti-Semitism could also find expression in extreme violence; his friend Walter Rathenau, the German foreign minister, had been murdered by ultra-nationalists. This article was written for an almanac on the problems facing Eastern European Jews studying in Western Europe by W.Z. Rabinowitsch and L. Halpern. This typescript, which incorporates final textual corrections, was provided to the editors but the almanac was never published.

LITERATURE:

Einstein, collects ed Papers: Volume 14, ed. Buchwald et al. (2015), pp.140-141

PROVENANCE:

Wolf Ze’ev Rabinowitsch; thence by descent