Einstein letter on Jewish solidarity garners top bid
Einstein addressed the letter, posted from his Princeton office, to Dr. Maurice Lenz of New York and praised his efforts to enable the refugees to enter the United States.
By TOM TUGENDA letter Albert Einstein wrote to Dr. Maurice Lenz(photo credit: NATE D. SANDERS AUCTIONS)
LOS ANGELES – A letter by Albert Einstein, citing Jewish solidarity as the only weapon of self-defense by a persecuted people, has been auctioned off for a top price of $134,344.The letter was written on June 10,1939, as Jews were fleeing Nazi Germany and as Hitler was preparing to launch World War II.Einstein addressed the letter, posted from his Princeton office, to Dr. Maurice Lenz of New York and praised his efforts to enable the refugees to enter the United States.“The power of resistance which has enabled the Jewish people to survive for thousands of years has been based to a large extent on traditions of mutual helpfulness,” Einstein wrote.“In these years of affliction our readiness to help one another is being put to an especially severe test. May we stand this test as well as did our fathers before us.“We have no other means of self-defense than our solidarity and our knowledge that the cause for which we are suffering is a momentous and sacred cause.”Auction of the letter was conducted by Nate D. Auctions of Los Angeles and the ultimate high among 23 bidders far exceeded the previous top of $53,504 among 20 Einstein letters offered by Sanders since 2017, spokesman Samuel Heller noted Friday (3/29).In the previous top, Einstein explained the science underlying his groundbreaking work on Electrostatic Theory and Special Relativity.Even the original photo of Einstein sticking out his tongue at pursuing photographers came in second at $125,000.In line with company policy, Sanders did not reveal the names of the seller and buyer of the letter.
Einstein concluded his letter to Lenz by writing, “It must be a source of deep satisfaction to you to be making so important a contribution toward rescuing our persecuted fellow-Jews from their calamitous peril and leading them toward a better future.”
