After the death of Chaim Weizmann in 1952, David Ben Gurion - then Prime Minister of Israel, wrote a letter to Albert Einstein in Princeton asking him to consider moving to Israel and taking on the role as the Second President of the State of Israel.
Albert Einstein declined the offer, saying:
"I am deeply moved by the offer from our State of Israel, and at once saddened and ashamed that I cannot accept it. All my life I have dealt with objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official functions. Therefore I would also be an inappropriate candidate for this high task, even when my old age didn't interfere with my forces more and more."
Albert Einstein died three years later.
What would have happened if Albert Einstein said yes to the Presidency? On the one hand he was a phenomenal Jewish genius well known in the whole world. On the other, he was a strong socialist with no experience working with other people? Sometimes it is thought provoking to wonder how such a decision could've changed the course of Jewish history.
It is vital to acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, I commend Einstein for being genius enough to know the difference.
ReplyDeleteIt would serve the leaders of today some good to follow suit.