The Denver Jewish news., 1921-06-22
WhatAwakened MyJew-
ish Consciousness
AND ZIONISM
DISCUSSED BY GREAT SCIENT-
IST.
By PROF. ALBERT E1NsTE1N

By PROF. ALBERT EINSTEIN
As l see it, anti-Semitism in Amer
lea has until recently assumed only a.
certain harmless. social character,
whereas in Germany. the anti-Jewish
feeling in society is far more notice
able and far more important. am
of the opinion that in their relations
to the Gentle world. Jews in Germany
should be continually mindful of the
fact that they constitute a separate
race. They must draw the necessary
and inevitable consequences of this
undeniable truism and pc, init it to in
fluence them in their social life and
in their cultural contributions. They
should exercise certain restraint,
and not be so anxious to force n
social assimilation which their neigh
bors are not inclined 10 accept read
lily nor to encourage.
Anti-Semitism in Germany has. on
the other hand. proluceu results
which the Jews should warmly well
come. l believe that the existence
of Judaism in Germany IS attribut-
able almost wholly to the pressure
of anti-Semitism. In the past, re-
similation of Jews with their sur
roundings. But as their prosperity
and culture grows. so also do religious
forms and traditions disappear. Anti
Semitism then remains as the only
differentiating factor between Jews
and the rest of the community and it
alone causes the difference in their
social life. Without this differentia-
tion there would come d complete
amalgamation with their surround
ings
1 have. myself experienced just this
thing. Till few years ago my entire
life was spent in Switzerland where
nothing occurred to influence my Jew
ish sentiments. In general. l was
hardly conscious of my Jewish origin
because was not made conscious of
II by others. But as soon as set
: ted mr. -Berlin everything changed.
There I saw Immediately the distress
and mental want of the younger Jew
.ish generation. / began to note that
Mt my university the atmosphere Of
anti-Semitism interfered with the
studies of the Jewish student and like
wise with his economic existence, to
such an extent that he found extreme
difficulty in maintaining himself Mt
college
This is particularly true of those
Jews who came from Eastern Europe,
since the Armistice. Tho, as far ns
I know, there is not n considerable
number of them in Germany, public
opinion has created n prOpleAn of their
presence which has become an unend-
ing subject of discussion. Meetings.
conferences and the press deal with 1t
continually. often demanding that the
East-European Jews who sought in
Germany haven of refuge from the
hell of pogrom and persecution liz
Ukrainia and Russia. be expelled i'm
mediately or interned To base these
rather unusual demands. all manner
Of excuses are concocted. There Is
the scarcity of dwellings. the lack of
food and the economic crisis IN gener-
al. And manufactures of public SEN
timent exaggerate these conditions in
order to play on the unfavorable atti-
tude Of the population. The East
European Jews are used as a scape-
goat and upon them in heaped the
blame for the present breakdown OF
economic life in Germany. in fact, for
the entire aftermath of the war.
Political demagogues have exploited
this public sentiment and when
particular party is rushed into office
on the wave of this sentiment. the
danger to the homeless Jews is critic
ally augmented.
At one such juncture not So long
ago when it was learned ON good au-
thority that the German gpvcrnment
was seriously considering the eXpul-
sion of all Eastern Jews, I penned an
article for the ''Berliner Tageblatt' in
which Indicated the cruelty and folly
Of such action, particularly if it were
aimed against students attending uni
yersities. / solicited and obtained the
assistance of some of my Jewish and
Gentle colleagues and together we or
ganized special free courses for the
Jewish students. The activities Of
our small group We're assisted by the
Department of Instruction and re-
ceived its official recognition and
sanction.
These and similar experiences
ouol.o rithin me my ma tinnal Jewish