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The Southern Israelite Page 7 We present herewith, by special arrangement with the MacMillan Company, this significant article by the fa ther of the theory of relativ ity. His pungent and fearless views are contained in a forthcoming hook entitled "About Zionism.” —The Editor. Before we can effectively combat anti-Semitism we must first of all edu cate ourselves out of it and out of the -lave-mentality which it betokens. We must have more dignity, more inde pendence, in our own ranks. Only when we have the courage to regard ourselves as a nation, only when vve respect ourselves, can we win the re spect of others; or, rather, the respect of others will then come of itself. Anti-Semitism as a psychological phenomenon will always be with us so long as Jews and non-Jews are thrown together. But where is the harm? It may be thanks to anti-Semitism that we are able to preserve our existence as a race; that at any rate is my be in'. When I come across the phrase "bermati Citizens of the Jewish Per- -uasion” I cannot avoid a melancholy •anile. What does this highfalutin description really mean? What is this Jewish persuasion”? Is there, then, a kind of non-persuasion by virtue of which one ceases to be a Jew? There is not. \\ hat the description really means is that our beaux esprits arc pro- i laintmg tivo things: hirst, I wish to have nothing to do with my poor (Hast European) Jewish brethren; Secondly, I wish to be regarded not as a son of my people, but only as a member of a religious community. Is this honest? Can an “Aryan” respect such dissemblers? I am not a German citizen, nor is there anything about me that can be described as "Jewish persuasion.” But I am a Jew, and 1 am glad to belong to the Jewish people, though I do not regard it as Let us just leave anti- Semitism to the non-Jews, and keep our own hearts warm for our kith and kin. * * { ntil about a generation ago the Jews in Germany did not regard them selves as belonging to the Jewish They felt themselves only umbers of a religious community, and any of them still hold this point of ' u They are, in fact, much more simulated than the Russian Jews. 1 ie - v have been to mixed schools, and a\e thus adapted themselves to Ger- national and cultural life. Never- ' 1 and in spite of the equal politi- rights which they have secured, vre exists in Germany a strong move- t of social anti-Semitism. And it ti>t the educated circles who have themselves up as carriers of this -Semitic disease. They have built tor themselves a “culture” of anti- uism. while the educated Russians, ast before the war, were on the e philo-Semitic, and made frequent honest endeavors to fight the anti- itic movement. is phenomenon in Germany is due vt-ral causes. Partly it originates e fact that Jews there exercise an nee over the intellectual life of f Vhy I Am A few About Assimilation and Nationalism By ALBERT EINSTEIN the German people altogether out of proportion to their numbers. While, in my opinion, the economic position of the German. Jews is very much over rated, the influence of Jews on the p.rcss, in literature and in science in Germany is very marked, as must be apparent to even the most superficial observer. This accounts for the fact that there are many anti-Semities there whose anti-Semitism is not just hatred of the Jews, but is based on arguments in which they honestly believe. They regard Jews as of a nationality differ ent from the German, and therefore are alarmed at the increasing Jewish influence on their national life. Al though perhaps the percentage of Jews in England is not much less than in Germany English Jews certainly do not exercise the influence on English soci ety that German Jews do in Germany. This notwithstanding that the highest professional positions are accessible to them, and a Jew can become Lord Chief Justice or Viceroy of India, whereas in Germany the attainment of such positions by a Jew is unthinkable. In many instances anti-Semitism may be determined by political considera tions. It often depends, in other words, on the political party to which a man belongs whether he becomes a pro fessed anti-Semite. A Socialist, for instance, even if be is an anti-Semite by conviction, will not proclaim bis creed or act up to it, because it is not in the program of his party. Among Con servatives, however, it is different. Anti-Semitism in their case arises from a desire to exacerbate for their party purposes the ill-feeling inherent in the populace. In a country like England this influence is smaller than in many others, while the existence of old and deep-rooted liberal traditions binders the rapid growth of anti-Semitism. I say this without any personal knowl edge ot the country. I have been in England very little. That, I would add m parenthesis, perhaps accounts for the enthusiasm with which my theories \\ere received here. But in Germany the judgment of my theories depended on the party politics of the press, while English science did not allow its sense oi objectivity to be disturbed by politi cal views. I be English people have bad a great influence on the develop ment of science, and so have talked the examination of the theory of relativity with particular energy and particular success. Whilst in America, again, anti-Semitism knows only social forms, in Germany communal anti- Semitism is much stronger even than social. As I view the matter, the fact of the racial peculiarities of Jews is bound to have an influence on their social intercourse. I believe that Ger man Judaism is thus being influenced # a great extent by anti-Semitism. \\ ith increasing wealth and increasing education the religious customs which formerly prevented the mixing of Jews with Gentiles have tended to disappear There was thus nothing but the antithesis which Jews represent, and which is called anti-Semitism, to pre serve Jewish separateness. Without this antithesis assimilation in Germany would have been complete long ago. I have noticed this sort of thing in myself. When I lived in Switzerland I did not realize my Judaism. There was nothing that called forth any Jew ish sentiments in me. When I moved to Berlin all that changed. There I At Distinguished Group EINSTEIN FETED BY JEWISH LEADERS New York:—Professor Albert Einstein’s last public function before leaving these shores after a visit of almost three months was a banquet tendered him by the American Palestine campaign. This picture shows American Zionist leaders grouped about Professor and Mrs. Einstein. From left to right, seated: Felix M. Warburg, Dr. Einstein, Mrs Einstein; from left to right, standing: Robert Szold, Morris Rothenberg, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Jefferson Seligman. realized the difficulties with which many young Jews were confronted. I saw how, amid anti-Semitic .surround ings systematic study, and with it the road to a safe existence, was made im possible for them. This refers specially to the Eastern-born Jews in Germany, who were continually exposed to provo cation. I do not believe that their num- ber is large in Germany as a whole. ( nly in Berlin arc they at all numcr- J • Nevertheless their presence has become a public question. At meetings and conferences and in the press there ,s . a . movement for disposing of them •juickly or interning them. Housing difficulties and the economic depression are used as arguments for these harsh measures Facts are deliberately ex aggerated in order to influence public opinion. 1 hese Eastern-born Jews are made the scapegoat of all the ills of present-day German political life and all the after-effects of the war. Incite ment against these unfortunate fugi tives. who have only just saved them selves from the hell which Eastern Europe means for them to-day has become an effective political weapon, employed with success by every dema gogue. \\ hen the Government con templated the expulsion of these Jews I stood up for them and pointed out in tlie Berliner Tagcblatt the inhumanity and the folly of such a measure. To gether with some colleagues, Jews and non-Jews, I started University courses for these Eastern-born Jews, and I must add that in this matter we enjoyed official recognition and considerable assistance from the Ministry of Educa tion. I hese and similar happenings have awakened in me the Jewish national sentiment. I am a national Jew in the sense that 1 demand the preservation of the Jewish nationality as of every other I look upon Jewish nationality as ,i fact, and I think that every Jew oughi to come to definite conclusions ° n Jewish questions on the basis of this fact. I regard the growth of Jewish self-assertion as being in the interests of non-Jews as well as of Jews. That was the main motive of my joining the Zionist movement. For me Zionism is not merely a question of colonization. I lie Jewish nation is a living thing, and the sentiment of Jewish nationalism must be developed both in Palestine and everywhere else. To deny the Jews nationality in the Diaspora is, indeed, deplorable. If one adopts the point of view of confining Jewish ethnic nationalism to Palestine then to all in tents and purposes one denies the exist ence of a Jewish people. In that case one should have the courage to carry through assimilation as quickly and as completely as possible. We live in a time of intense and per haps exaggerated nationalism. But my Zionism does not exclude cosmopolitan views I believe in the actuality of Jewish nationality, and I believe that every Jew has duties toward his Coreligionists. The meaning of Zionism is thus many-sided. To Jews who de spair in the Ukrainian hell or in Poland it opens out hopes of a more human existence. Through the return of Jews I alestine, and so to a normal and healthy economic life, Zionist involves a creative function, which should en rich mankind at large. But the main point is that Zionism most tend to enhance the dignity and self-respect of the Jews in the Diaspora, I have al- (Continued on Page 11) 1.4