The Genius as National Icon: Albert Einstein's Involvement in the Zionist Movement

This talk will focus on Albert Einstein's involvement with the Zionist movement in the interwar years in Germany, Europe, Palestine, and the U.S. More specifically, it will focus on some of the major aspects of Einstein's involvement in Zionism during this period: his induction into the Zionist movement; the interaction between Einstein's emerging fame and his involvement with the Zionist movement; the political, cultural, and ideological influences on his views on Zionism; his views on major Zionist issues and on Zionism's role within the German-Jewish community; the major Zionist projects he took an active role in; his intensive involvement in planning for and establishing the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his positions in the discussions and controversies regarding the University's character and development; his main actions on behalf of Zionism (e.g., his trips to the U.S., Palestine, etc.); and the various symbolic and ideological roles he fulfilled for the Zionist movement.