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Einstein, Though at Home With Relativity, Flunked As Mathematics Student<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Scientist, Voted “Great Man,” a Dominating Personality in Laboratory but Almost Childish in Private Life—- Too Shy to Make a Speech in Public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By Meyer Weisgal 1<\/a><\/sup> Meyer Weisgal was an American journalist, publisher, playwright, fundraiser, and Zionist activist who served as the President of the Weizmann Institute of Science and as the founding President of Beit Hatfutsot.<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He 2<\/a><\/sup> Albert Einstein<\/span>.is only 49, and yet he is now called the “world’s greatest man.” Albert Einstein is given this title as the result of a survey recently conducted by the London Daily Chronicle. 3<\/a><\/sup> The London Daily Chronicle is now called the Daily Chronicle and has merged with the Daily News. <\/span> This newspaper compiled a list of the world’s great men in answer to a statement made by the Archbishop of Canterbury 4<\/a><\/sup> Randall Davidson was the Archbishop at this time <\/span> that the world has no great personalities today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is said that very few people know the actual content of the theory of relativity 5<\/a><\/sup> Einterin’s theory of relativity encompasses two theories Einstein’s special relativity and general relativity theory. <\/span> but almost everybody has heard of its author, Albert Einstein. His theory of the universe was so startling that not only the scientists but the laymen were astonished by its implications. It is very strange in this age of machinery, an age where sheer force and power are presumed to entitle one to distinction, that a man like Albert Einstein supremely intellectual and reserved, should even be considered for the post of “the world’s greatest man.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professor Einstein son of a German Jewish family, was born in 1879 in Ulm, Wurtemberg. He spent his school days in Munich where he attended a gymnasium.6<\/a><\/sup> the Luitpold Gymnasium <\/span> From 1896 to 1900 he studied mathematics and physics at the Technical High School in Zurich, Switzerland. Originally, he intended to become a school teacher, but having meanwhile become naturalized, he obtained a post as engineer in the Swiss Patent Office. 7<\/a><\/sup> a Patent Office is where they deal with patent, trade mark and design applications. <\/span> The main idea involved in the most important of Einstein’s theories date back to this period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1909 he became professor at the University of Zurich. Later he was called to the University of Prague. In 1914 8<\/a><\/sup> Einstein was a professor theoretical physics in which he taught analytical mechanics and thermodynamics <\/span> he accepted an invitation to the Prussian Academy of Science, Berlin. It was here that he completed his work of “General Theory of Relativity” between 1915-17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most amazing circumstances in the life of this man who is acknowledged leader in a branch of science which is dependent on figures is that he failed in mathematics while at the university. It is the duality of this man, not unusual in geniuses, which is his distinguishing characteristic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a remarkable contrast between Albert Einstein the man, and Albert Einstein, the scientist. In his latter profession Einstein is a dominating personality, whose courage in the face of ideas has led him to some of the most revolutionary discoveries. He is aggressive in the scientific world, daring to tackle theories and facts which have been accepted by the scientists for centuries. It is this very disregard of established facts and theories that has been responsible for the widespread fame that he has secured. Albert Einstein came to be thought of as “the world’s greatest man” because he is an outstanding example of man’s superiority over the forces of nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And yet Einstein, is an entirely different personality within private life. He is very naive, sometimes even to regret his extremely sensitive nature. Indicative of his craving for quiet is the passion with ‘which he has cultivated his musical talent.’ Einstein is not only a scientist: he is a violinist of great accomplishment. Music critics who have had the good fortune to be present at some of the private recitals which Einstein has given have declared that the concert stage offers him huge sums of money. 9<\/a><\/sup> Einstein’s violin was actually auctioned off recently in 2018 for $516,500 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Einstein is unimpressed with his own fame. He cannot conceive of himself as an internationally known figure, and childish wonderment always overcomes him when he hears himself referred to by prominent scientists as a distinction to their profession. Einstein thinks much more of his violin playing than of his scientific achievements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Typical of his shyness is Einstein’s known powers as a good listener. He rarely talks in company, but gives the impression of listening very centratedly. Even when a huge crowd expects an encouraging speech, no matter how short, he is too reticent to appear. A speech of his that has become famous was delivered about six years ago while he was visiting this country in the presence of a fellow-scientist, Dr. Chaim Weizmann 10<\/a><\/sup> Weizmann was also a biochemist and Israeli statesman <\/span> who is also president of the World Zionist Organization. 11<\/a><\/sup> The World Zionist Organization (WZO) is a non-governmental organization that promotes Zionism <\/span> A mass meeting was being held at one of the New York City armories, attended by some of the foremost Jews in the metropolis. Nobody has heard Einstein before they were all eager to get a glimpse of the famous Einstein and to hear what he might have to say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At last Einstein appeared on the platform greeted by a five-minute ovation. Then there was silence, And Einstein spoke: “Wizmann is your leader. Follow him. I have spoken.’ Those three terse sentences was all Einstein said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He attends few functions, especially those which are intended to do him honor. There was one celebration planned for him in Germany given by the outstanding scientists of his country. He was to be guest of honor. At the last moment he wired: “Sorry: unable to attend; congratulations.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n One would think that a man who has attained the stature of Einstein would be considered far above personalities. And yet even Einstein, who has brought so much credit to German science ando German culture, has been hounded in Germany because he is a Jew. He, together with a number of other prominent Jews, among them the late Maximillian Harden 12<\/a><\/sup> Harden was an influential Geramn journalist and editor. <\/span> , enemy of the Kaisers, were put on what become known as the “black list.” This “black list” was gotten up after the war, when German monarchists were trying to divert the German people from the defeat they had sustained at the hands of the Allies. Some monarchists spread the rumor that the leading Jews of Germany over the Allies and that it was because of Jewish defection, that the Central Powers 13<\/a><\/sup> Countires were Germany, Austria- Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria and their territories. <\/span> lost the World War 14<\/a><\/sup> Reference to WWI. <\/span>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This succeeded in winning a number of German anti-Semites, who determined to rid the nation of Jews. Walter Rathenau 16<\/a><\/sup> Rathenau was a industrialist, writer and liberal politician. <\/span>, the German-Jewish financier and statesman, was made a victim of the “black list.” He was assassinated. But Einstein fled to Switzerland, where he had to remain for some time before the anti-Semitic agitation learned up in Germany. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Einstein can only speak one language, German. Many noted visitors come to his home, who try to speak to him in various languages, but he deprecates his lingual ignorance and adds: “The language I know best is physics.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Einstein is typical of the great Jewish figures whom Germany has produced. He has made Zionism his hobby. 17<\/a><\/sup> Zionism derived from the world Zion, was a goring Jewish movement toward assimilation. <\/span> When he is through with his laboratory, and after he has soothed himself with his violin, he takes up the problems which confront the Jewish people, and does whatever is in his power to aid their solution. He belies staunchly that a Jewish homeland should be built up in Palestine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Time and again, when he has been asked to write on scientific subjects, Einstein has preferred to concentrate his energies on Jewish problems. His writings on Jewish topics are quite prolific, and all of them are show through with an idealism and optimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a typical passage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The reconstruction of Palestine is not merely a philanthropic task for Jews; it represents not merely an opportunity for colonization but it is a problem of first-rate importance for the Jewish people. It is not mainly a refuge for Eastern Jews but the incarnation of the revised national feeling of all Jews. Is it desirable and necessary to strengthen this feeling? In my opinion the reply must be in the affirmative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “It is essential that we Jews above all should become once more conscious of our existence asa nation, that we should regain the self-respect which is necessary for such a national existence. We must take upon our selves once more cultural tasks which are adapted to strengthen our collective national feeling.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Einstein’s participation in his people’s cause has not only been a matter of writing. H has given a great deal of time to conferences and meetings wherever his personality would be of value in stimulating interest in the gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of his reactions to his American visit, Einstein said: “My greatest experience was that for the first time in my life I have seen the Jewish people. I have hitherto seen very many Jews in large numbers, but I have never seen the Jewish people, neither in Berlin Nor elsewhere in Germany. I have seen how extraordinarily self-sacrificing these American Jews are. I found that it was generally the middle class, and above all the common people, and not those who by their social position or other advantages had rise to the top, who still possessed the sound instinct of their common origin and who were willing to make sacrifices on a large scale for their people.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c4 Mar 1928, Page 73 – The Brooklyn Daily Eagle at Newspapers.com.\u201d Newspapers.com. Accessed April 28, 2021. https:\/\/www.newspapers.com\/image\/57570109\/?terms=einstein&match=1. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of the annotations I used were simple google searches to tell me who, or what the text read. In majority I used Wikipedia because that was the first link that would come up when I searched a person’s name or place or ideal. All websites I used for research are listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlbert Einstein.\u201d Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, April 9, 2021. https:\/\/www.biography.com\/scientist\/albert-einstein. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCentral Powers of World War I.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 25, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Central_Powers_of_World_War_I. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChaim Weizmann.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 21, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chaim_Weizmann.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDaily Chronicle.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, March 23, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Daily_Chronicle.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hanlon, Mike. \u201cEinstein’s Violin Fetches $516,500 at New York Auction.\u201d New Atlas, March 11, 2018. https:\/\/newatlas.com\/einstein-violin-auction\/53760\/.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaximilian Harden.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, March 26, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maximilian_Harden. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cList of Archbishops of Canterbury.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 25, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_archbishops_of_Canterbury. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSwiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 22, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Swiss_Federal_Institute_of_Intellectual_Property. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTheory of Relativity.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 10, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Theory_of_relativity.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWalther Rathenau.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 8, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Walther_Rathenau. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWorld Zionist Organization.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 2, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/World_Zionist_Organization. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cZionism.\u201d Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 15, 2021. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zionism#Terminology. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\nFailed as Mathematics Student<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Childish in Private Life<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Refuses to Make a Speech<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Hounded as a Jew<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Speaks Only One Tongue 15<\/a><\/sup> Language <\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Backs Zionist Move<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Likes American Jews<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Citations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n