Einstein TLS

 

Albert Einstein TLS to Dr. Lily Gibbs Requesting Help with Immigration



Date: February 22, 1940

Location: Princeton, New Jersey, USA

Medium: Typed letter signed (TLS)

Collection: Yavneh Klos Collection, Holocaust Archive 

This profoundly moving letter, typed and signed by Albert Einstein just after the start of war in Europe, offers an intimate glimpse into the scientist’s active humanitarian involvement. Written to Dr. Lily Gibbs, the correspondence reflects Einstein’s deep concern over the increasingly desperate situation for Jews under Nazi rule and reveals his personal efforts to assist those seeking refuge. Einstein himself had left Germany and renounced his citizenship in 1933, shortly after Hitler came to power. In the letter, Einstein informs Dr. Gibbs that the documents required for immigration are no longer being issued—a stark indicator of the tightening restrictions on Jewish movement. Displaying both compassion and urgency, Einstein suggests turning to the American Zionist movement as a potential avenue for emigration to Palestine, emphasizing the need for immediate action in the face of escalating persecution. While Einstein is renowned for his contributions to theoretical physics, this document illustrates another dimension of his legacy: a deeply principled individual, compelled to respond to the political and social crises of his era with action and advocacy.

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