Me and My Hero: Albert Einstein

By Eric Blacher

Albert Einstein is a hero to the Jewish people, to our country, and to the whole world for his uncanny scientific talent, sense of altruism, and love of humanity. Selected as Time Magazine’s “Man of the Century,” Einstein exemplifies my definition of a hero.

My definition of a hero is….

Someone that can overcome obstacles and utilize them for positive purposes.

Someone that demonstrates a degree of leadership whereby a significant contribution is made and affects society as a whole.

Someone who improves the lives of others. Someone who I can aspire to be like.

Einstein Biographical Facts I

Born at Ulm, in Württemberg, Germany, on March 14, 1879.

When he was a boy, his family moved to Munich, which had a reputation for anti-Semitism.

No early signs of his future genius. He was constantly the target of anti-

Semitism by his classmates. Anti-German vow and give up citizenship.

Einstein Biographical Facts II

In 1896 he was able to enroll at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

By 1902 he had secured a position as patent examiner at the Swiss patent office in Bern, where he worked for the next 7 years.

The year 1905 was a significant year for science. At the age of 26, Einstein published four papers in the journal Annalen der Physik. Four Papers.

Einstein Biographical Facts III

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 Accepted numerous professorships in

several prestigious institutes of higher learning.

Einstein Biographical Facts IV

Einstein was a Zionist, humanist, and advocate of peace.

Toured America with Chaim Weitzman and the Zionists and spoke in favor of support of the United Jewish Appeal and Israel.

When Chaim Weitzman died, Einstein was asked to be candidate for president of Israel, but declined.

Instead, he became a trustee of Hebrew University and donated many of his original manuscripts to it.

Hebrew University Statement

Einstein Biographical Facts V Einstein was a pacifist and an active leader in the

international anti-war movement. Advocated military preparedness against the threat of

Nazism. He was tireless in his efforts to prevent war. He was urged by physicists to write his famous letter to

President Roosevelt to make him aware of the inherent dangers of Germany’s developing an atomic bomb.

When asked how World War III would be fought he said he didn’t know. But he said World War IV would be fought with sticks and stones.

Einstein Biographical Facts VI

“We must do everything in our power to safeguard against its [nuclear weapons] abuse.”

“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.”

-Albert Einstein

Synthesis of Heroic Traits Felt a close affinity with the Jewish people and

advocated a Jewish homeland and said a solution to the Arab-Jewish conflict had to be based on mutual understanding and consent.

Peace activist and humanitarian. Overcame the obstacles of anti-Semitism and

fame. Unprecedented genius and incredible

mathematical, scientific, and philosophical talent. Someone who I want to emulate.

Radio Address:

“Ladies and gentlemen, our age is proud of the progress it has made in man’s intellectual development. The search and striving for truth and knowledge is one of the highest of man’s qualities- though often the pride is most loudly voiced by those who strive the least. And certainly we should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. It cannot lead, it can only serve; and it is not fastidious in its choice of a leader. This characteristic is reflected in the quality of its priests, the intellectuals. The intellect has a sharp eye for methods and tools, but is blind to ends and values. So it is no wonder that this fatal blindness is handed on from old to young and today involves a whole generation.”

You are my hero Professor Beyer

Thank you for a great seminar!

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