Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, once said that Albert Einstein was “the greatest Jew alive.” So, upon Weizmann’s death on November 9, 1952, the Embassy of Israel sent a letter to Einstein on November 17, officially offering him the presidency.
The letter read that Einstein would have to move to Israel and wouldn’t have to worry about the job being a distraction from his other interests.
“The Prime Minister assures me that in such circumstances complete facility and freedom to pursue your great scientific work would be afforded by a government and people who are fully conscious of the supreme significance of your labours,” Abba Ebban, an Israeli diplomat, wrote.
However, Einstein turned the offer down, stating that he was not qualified, he was too old, inexperienced and had insufficient people skills. Einstein was 73 at that time.
“All my life I have dealt with objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official functions,” he wrote.
Einstein hoped his decision wouldn’t reflect badly on his relationship with the Jewish community – a connection he called his “strongest human bond.”
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