D O C . 3 7 9 T R A V E L D I A R Y 5 7 9 welcomed Einstein and his entourage. Einstein was presented with an address in which he was elected “Honorary Citizen of Tel Aviv” (see Abs. 514). This was the first time that such an honor had been bestowed on a visitor. For Einstein’s response to this honor, see 8 February 1923 in the Chronology. Mossinson told the crowd that Einstein had asked him to inform them that he “was deeply sorry that he could not yet address them in Hebrew but that he was studying the language and hoped to teach you soon in Hebrew at the Jerusalem university” (“mitsta’er hu me’od she’eyin od be’yado lifnot eleychem be’ivrit. Ve’ulam hu lomed ivrit u’mekave od lizchot be’karov lelamed etchem be’ivrit ba- universita ha-ivrit”). This was greeted by the crowd with cheers and cries of “Long live Prof. Einstein” (see Ha’aretz and Doar Hayom, 9 February 1923, and Palestine Weekly , 16 February 1923). For a photo taken outside the municipality during Einstein’s visit, see Illustration 26. [228]The first power station in Tel Aviv was being constructed by Pinhas Ruthenberg, founder of the Palestine Electric Corporation. Tel Aviv’s first subterranean electric cable was laid under Allenby Street during Einstein’s visit (see New Palestine, 9 February 1923). The quarantine station for immigrants with contagious diseases was located at the port of Jaffa. Einstein toured the Silikat brick factory accompanied by Mayor Dizengoff (see Ha’aretz, 11 February 1923). At the time of Einstein’s visit, the factory was experiencing a severe labor dispute that had erupted in spring 1922 (see Shachori 1990, p. 270). [229]The popular reception was held in the courtyard of the Gymnasium. According to press reports, “thousands” attended the event. In his introduction to Einstein’s speech, Mossinson claimed that Einstein “has come as a Zionist, to see the country in the hope that he will subsequently be able to settle in it” (“hu ba be’tor zioni, lirot et ha-aretz ba-tikva she-ya’ale acharei chen be-yado lehishtakea ba”). This was greeted by the crowd with cheers. For Einstein’s speech, see Ha’aretz, 11 February 1923, and Palestine Weekly , 16 February 1923. [230]The agricultural experimental station had been founded by Yitzhak Elazari-Vulkani and was located in the vicinity of the Herzliya Gymnasium. Einstein visited the facility accompanied by Moss- inson and Dizengoff (see Ha’aretz, 11 February 1923). The courses were held at the Association for Scientific Education on Yehuda Halevi Street. Aha- ron Czerniawski (1887–1966) was a teacher at the Herzliya Gymnasium. Einstein participated in a meeting of the Association of Engineers and Architects in Palestine, which was held in his honor in Lilienblum Street. Its chairman, Engineer Shimon(?) Reich, presented Einstein with the honorary diploma. The diploma names Einstein as the association’s first “honorary member” (see Ha’aretz, 11 February 1923, and for the diploma, see Abs. 505). [231]Shmuel Tulkowski (1886–1965) was a citrus grower and member of the Tel Aviv municipal council. The assembly was held in the auditorium of the Gymnasium. Only a small number of guests were invited due to the size of the auditorium—inter alia, public figures, teachers and writers. Mayor Di- zengoff introduced Einstein, yet stated that this was not an easy task, as he had traveled to Jerusalem to hear him lecture and was not embarrassed to admit that he had not understood his lecture. He there- fore could not explain to the audience what made Einstein great. Einstein lectured in German on the relationship of the theory of relativity to philosophical issues, e.g., the consequences of relativity for epistemology, its contradiction of Kant’s ideas of space and time, and its implications for the finite- ness of cosmic space. Following the lecture, the choir of Hanina Karchevsky sang and the school’s orchestra played for the guests (see Ha’aretz, 11 February 1923 Doar Hayom, 11 and 12 February 1923 and Palestine Weekly , 16 February 1923). Einstein’s diary does not mention two additional locations he toured in the Tel Aviv area: Ir Ganim, a garden city on the outskirts of Tel Aviv (now Ramat Gan), and the public baths located near the Casino coffeehouse by the Mediterranean (see Doar Hayom, 11 February 1923). [232]Einstein attended the second session of the semiannual conference of the General Federation of Labor at the Eden Cinema in Tel Aviv. Einstein and Elsa entered the hall during the speech of David Ben-Gurion, general secretary of the federation. They were greeted enthusiastically by the delegates. Hugo Bergmann, an executive member of the federation, welcomed Einstein. In his short address to the conference, Einstein stated: “I have observed your work in the country and in particular in Jeru- salem with great admiration. I have heard that you are on the path to creating a new Federation of Labor the likes of which the country has not yet seen believe me that I am very interested in seeing
Previous Page Next Page