Albert Einstein, the famous scientist and author of the relativity theory, whose theories were recently attacked by Cardinal O’Connell as leading toward atheism, declared his faith in God in reply to a cabled inquiry from a New York rabbi.
The rabbi, Hebert G. Goldstein of the Institutional Synagogue, cabled to the famous scientist: “Do you believe in God?” He was anxious, the Rabbi declared, to refute the Cardinal’s charge. In reply he received the following cablegram from Professor Einstein in German:
“Ich glaube an Spinozas Gott der sich in gesetzlicher Harmonie des Seienden offenbart, nicht an Gott der Sich mit Schicksalen und Handlungen der Menschen abgibt.” (I believe in Spinoza’s God who reveals Himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns Himself with fates and actions of human beings.)
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
