Einstein as President of Israel
- Thread starter Blair152
- Start date
Einstein was an self-identified Agnostic in 1950. He doesn't strike me as a leader of a nation founded on Religion.
Israel wasn't "founded on religion", but rather was founded on secular Zionism, which Einstein had a lot of problems with. He didn't accept the offer OTL for some very strong personal reasons, so either Israel has to be created in a different manner than OTL (the violence associated with the Zionist cause caused Einstein a deal of discomfort) or give Einstein a very different life.
Well, a "Zionist Jewish State" was the idea of Israel. That is also based on my belief that Jews aren't there own ethnic group as they are a religious group. So the way I see it, Israel was founded as a homeland for a Religious Group.
The Vulture
Banned
Given Einstein's distaste for violence and war, I don't really see this happening.
IOTL there was tension between BG and Weizmann that went back a ways. BG had taken over the Congress leadership less than cordially, BG didn't even bother informing CW of government policy (not that he had to IMO). Yigal Allon did that against BG's wishes. Einstein wasn't political, and the job required a politician.
That's your opinion, but it wasn't opinion of the vast majority of the Zionists at the time, who were overwhelmingly secular socialists.
Einstein himself, along with other assimilated and secular Jews such as Sigmund Freud, served on the first board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His state reason for not accepting the Presidency of Israel was insufficient interpersonal skills: "I am deeply moved by the offer from our State of Israel, and at once saddened and ashamed that I cannot accept it....I have neither the natural ability nor the experience to deal with human beings."
Anyway, even if he had accepted, nothing would have happened. It's not coincidence that the post of President was offered to a non-politician: it's effectively powerless.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_einstein#cite_note-Time-30
Cook
Banned
We are talking about the office of President.
In Israel that does not control the Executive branch of government.
I can see old Albert lending his international stature to the new homeland founded as a refuge for his fellow surviving European Jews.
Cook
Banned
The Zionists were very much secular. It is only in later years that religious Jews have had such a sway on Israeli politics.
Red Wolf
Banned
The founders of Israel, virtually all of whom were atheists would find your logic quite amusing.
Red Wolf
Banned
He was also a committed Zionist and the President of Israel is a largely ceremonial position.
It's driving me crazy because I can't think of the title right now, but there is a short story out there with exactly this premise.
In 1948, Israel was not a nation known on the international stage for being violent or war-mongering.
Cook
Banned
Consider the era.
I would not have said that being surrounded by nations with the declared aim of exterminating you and being a home for refugees gives you a reputation as a warmonger.
From most accounts Israel prior to the mid 70’s enjoyed much of the world’s sympathy.
Ah ha! Found it: "The Symmetry of Duty," by Louise Rowder, in Alternate Tyrants, one of the alternate anthologies edited by Mike Resnick back in the '90s. According to Uchronia, Haaretz also published a WI on the topic back in 2000, entitled "Is there a Respectable Man Here?"