ON 13 November 1950, the minister of a church in Brooklyn, N.Y., wrote to Einstein in Princeton saying, among other things, that some twenty-six years before, as a college student, he had bought an autographed photograph of Einstein that he had cherished ever since. He went on to say that shortly after the rise of Hitler, Einstein had made a statement that the minister had often quoted from his pulpit. He wondered if Einstein would send him the two paragraphs of the statement copied out in Einstein’s own handwriting so that he could reframe the photograph to include them.
Saying that he did not wish to seem like a parasite, he enclosed a check—not in payment, since he knew that one could not buy such a handwritten statement, but as a gift for Einstein to use as he saw fit, and as a token of gratitude. On a separate sheet he copied out the statement he was referring to. Here it is:
“Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came to Germany I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but no, the universities were immediately silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in those days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks. Then I looked to the individual writers who, as literary guides of Germany, had written much and often concerning the place of freedom in modem life; but they, too, were mute.
“Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing the truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.”
On 14 November 1950, Einstein replied in English as follows:
I was deeply impressed with the fine and generous way you have approached me in your letter of November 11th. I am, however, a little embarrassed. The wording of the statement you have quoted is not my own. Shortly after Hitler came to power in Germany I had an oral conversation with a newspaper man about these matters. Since then my remarks have been elaborated and exaggerated nearly beyond recognition. I cannot in good conscience write down the statement you sent me as my own.
The matter is all the more embarrassing to me because I, like yourself, am predominantly critical concerning the activities, and especially the political activities, through history of the official clergy. Thus, my former statement, even if reduced to my actual words (which I do not remember in detail) gives a wrong impression of my general attitude.
I am, however, gladly willing to write something else which would suit your purpose, if you give me any indication what it could be.
The minister replied on 16 November 1950 saying he was glad the statement had not been correct since he too had had reservations about the historical role of the Church at large. He elaborated at some length on the topic and then suddenly apologized for “preaching.” He said he would leave the decision to Einstein as to the topic of the statement, he hailed the prophetic spirit of Einstein, and ended by calling down God’s blessing upon him.
Here is the statement that Einstein sent. It was sent in English on 20 November 1950:
The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.
To make this a living force and bring it to clear consciousness is perhaps the foremost task of education.
The foundation of morality should not be made dependent on myth nor tied to any authority lest doubt about the myth or about the legitimacy of the authority imperil the foundation of sound judgment and action.
__________
On 27 January 1947 Einstein received a telegram from the National Conference of Christians and Jews somewhat peremptorily saying that it needed a statement from Einstein of 25 to 50 words, to be wired collect, the statement to be in support of “American Brotherhood.” It is a topic that invites and almost demands platitudes, but Einstein avoided the pitfall. He sent the following statement in English:
If the believers of the present-day religions would earnestly try to think and act in the spirit of the founders of these religions then no hostility on the basis of religion would exist among the followers of the different faiths. Even the conflicts in the realm of religion would be exposed as insignificant.
__________
On 14 October of the same year, Einstein received a long telegram saying that on 19 October many diplomats and other distinguished figures would be speaking at a great and impressive dedication of the site on Riverside Drive in New York City on which there would later be erected a memorial to the heroes of the battle of the Warsaw Ghetto and to the six million martyred Jews of Europe. Einstein was invited to attend as an honored guest. If he could not do so, the telegram went on to say, then perhaps he could honor the occasion by sending a message by 16 October.
Einstein needed no urging. It was a cause close to his heart. He sent the following message in English, dating it 19 October 1947:
Today’s solemn meeting has deep significance. Few years separate us from the most horrible mass crime that modern history has to relate; a crime committed not by a fanaticized mob, but in cold calculation by the government of a powerful nation. The fate of the surviving victims of German persecution bears witness to the degree to which the moral conscience of mankind has weakened.
Today’s meeting shows that not all men are prepared to accept the Horror in silence. This meeting is inspired by the will to secure the dignity and the natural rights of individual man. It stands for the recognition of the fact that a tolerable existence for man—and even his bare existence—is tied to our adherence to the eternal moral demands.
For this stand I wish to express my appreciation and thanks as a human being and as a Jew.
