2019 October Legends Closing October 19
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2019
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). He is best known to the general public for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, which has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation". He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect", a pivotal step in the development of quantum theory.
In 1933, while Einstein was visiting the United States, Adolf Hitler came to power. Because of his Jewish background, Einstein did not return to Germany. He settled in the United States and became an American citizen in 1940. On the eve of World War II, he endorsed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt alerting him to the potential development of "extremely powerful bombs of a new type" and recommending that the US begin similar research. This eventually led to the Manhattan Project. He was affiliated with the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, until his death in 1955.
Presented is a signed and typed letter from Einstein to Isaac Hirsch, the President of B’Er Chayim Congregation in Cumberland, Maryland. Dated September 24, 1946, Einstein has written, “Thank you very much for your kind invitation. Despite being something like a Jewish saint I have been absent from a synagogue so long that I am afraid God would not recognize me and if He would it would be worse.” The Nobel Prize-winning physicist has signed his name “A. Einstein” in black pen. Einstein was invited to attend the Holy Days at his synagogue for Rosh Hashana which was September 26th, 1946. The letter is typed on an 8 ½ x 11-inch white sheet, that has been folded in thirds and in half. There is a small chip in the upper center of the page. An Einstein letter regarding God and Judaism are of exceeding rarity and are highly desirable. This letter comes with a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication.