Monday, September 08, 2014

"save Jesus only with themselves" - Einstein and Zionism



Tokyo


Einstein and Zionism

Albert Einstein once stated his position about the establishment of a Judaist nation in Palestine, though it was 1920s.

“How I Became a Zionist” 
The interview on which this document is based was conducted before 30 May 1921
PUBLISHED 21 June 1921

Until one generation ago, Jews in Germany did not consider themselves as members of the Jewish People. They merely considered themselves members of a religious community, and many still retain this Point of view today. They are indeed far better assimilated than Russian Jews. They have attended mixed schools and have adapted to the German People and to their cultural life. Yet in spite of the official equal rights they enjoy, there is a strong social anti-Semitism. And it is especially the educated circles who support the anti-Semitic movement. They have even established a “science” of anti-Semitism, while the intellectuals of Russia, at least Prior to the war, usually were Philo-Semitic and frequently made honest attempts to fight the anti-Semitic movement. This is rooted in diverse causes.
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I consider raising Jewish self-confidence necessary, also in the interest of a normal living together with non-Jews. This was the major motive of my joining the Zionist movement. Zionism, to me, is not just a colonizing movement directed toward Palestine.
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But my Zionism does not preclude cosmopolitan conceptions. Starting from the reality of Jewish nationality, l believe that every Jew has duties toward his fellow Jews. The significance of Zionism is of course manifold.  It opens the possibility of a dignified human existence to many Jews who presently suffer in the hell of Ukraine or decay economically in Poland. By repatriating Jews to Palestine and giving them a healthy and normal economic existence, Zionism is a Productive activity that enriches human society. But the main Point is that Zionism strengthens the self-confidence of Jews, which is necessary for their existence in the diaspora, and that the Jewish center in Palestine creates a strong bond that gives Jews moral support.
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The founding of a free Jewish community structure in Palestine will again put Jewish People in a position where they can unencumbered fully unfold their creative capabilities. The establishment of the Hebrew university and similar institutions will not only lead the Jewish People to its own national renaissance, but also give Jews the opportunity of contributing to the spiritual life of the world on a freer basis.
http://press.princeton.edu/einstein/materials/jewish_nationality.pdf

So, the world today seems to be still in the aftermath of 1920s when Einstein sensed that something was wrong around Judaists in Germany and he noticed crises of Judaists in Ukraine and Poland.

However, the history has proved that it is not in Israel but the US that Judaists can unfold their creative capabilities so freely.  And, Einstein himself found retirement home in the US.

Anyway, Israelis today have to think over the words by Einstein: "Zionism, to me, is not just a colonizing movement directed toward Palestine."





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Mar 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Mar 9:8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
Mar 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.