Albert Einstein (1879-1955).

Typed letter signed (‘A. Einstein‘) to Hugo Bergmann, 112 Mercer Street, Princeton, 5 June 1936.

In German. 1½ pages, 277 x 215mm (paperclip stain at upper left corner).

Eagerly following events in Palestine during the early months of the Arab Revolt. ‘All good Jews here are naturally following with eager interest the events in Palestine. The disciplined and determined behaviour of our people causes amazement. I personally believe that the broader consequences of the conflict will overall have a positive effect for our affair’ [i.e. Zionism]. This comes as a postscript to a letter otherwise preoccupied with recommending a Professor Kulischer for a position at the Hebrew University: Einstein goes so far as to state that ‘on the basis of his achievements he has a moral right’ to such a position; and Einstein understands that half of the costs of the position have already been underwritten over three years by the Rockefeller Foundation, so there should be no financial objection. ‘If in Jerusalem there is an inclination in principle for the appointment, but the necessary funding is not available, I could, together with friends here, see whether one could find a few people here who would be capable and willing to help in this special case’.

The ‘Professor Kulischer’ whose cause Einstein so earnestly promotes is perhaps Alexander Kulischer (1890-1942), a former professor at the University of Petrograd and a pioneer in the study of the demographics of emigration, who was arrested by the French police in 1936 whilst crossing from the occupied to the unoccupied zone of France, and ultimately died in a German concentration camp.

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