Einstein Sees Unity of Jews Not Political but Resting Only on Moral Tradition

The unity of Jews the world over is no wise a political unity and should never become such but rests exclusively on a moral tradition, declared Prof. Albert Einstein in a radio address on Palestine Saturday afternoon. In his second message over the air, Professor Einstein spoke on Palestine over an international hookup of the National Broadcasting Company under the auspices of Avukah, the American Student Zionist Federation.

Professor Einstein was introduced to the radio audience by George M. Hyman, executive secretary of Avukah, who recently returned from Palestine where he acted as registrar of the Hebrew University in which is deposited the original manuscript of the Professor Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Professor Einstein was presented on behalf of the Avukah students who will hold their fifth annual convention in Boston, December 24th to 28th.

Earlier in the day Professor Einstein was officially welcomed at City Hall by Mayor Walker, a repetition of the honor accorded the great scientist on his first visit to America in 1921. A special reception committee consisting of 69 leaders in science, education, journalism, religion, philanthropy and Jewish communal life headed by Nicholas Murray Butler, was named by Mayor Walker.

The full text of Professor Einstein’s radio address follows:

“My dear friends:

“I am very happy to have the opportunity to speak a few words directly to the youth of this land which has remained true to Jewish ideals.

DIFFICULTIES A TEST

“Do not, I ask of you, allow yourselves to be discouraged by the difficulties which seem to face us at present in Palestine. Such experiences are the tests of the Jewish people’s will to live.

“Undoubtedly certain statements and measures, taken and pronounced by British officials have been just subject for criticism. We can not, however, be satisfied with this, but we must learn the lesson of what has recently happened.

“In the first place, we must pay great attention to our relations with the Arab people. By cultivating these relations we shall be able to avoid a development in the future of those dangerous tensions, which can be exploited for the purpose of provoking hostile action against us. We can very well attain this end, because our upbuilding of Palestine has been so conducted and must be so conducted that it also serves the real interests of the Arab population.

“And in the second place in doing this we will be able to avoid the unfortunate necessity—unfortunate for Arabs and Jews alike—of being obliged to call in the Mandatory Power to act as judge and umpire between us.

“In this way we are not merely following the bidding of wisdom but we also remain faithful to our traditions which above all else give substance and meaning to the unity of Israel. For indeed this unity of Jews the world over is in no wise a political unity, and should never become such. It rests exclusively on a moral tradition. Out of this alone can the Jewish people maintain its creative powers, and on this alone claim its basis for existence.”

Prof. Einstein will sail today on the S. S. Belgenland for San Francisco.