Why Albert Einstein Turned Down An Offer From Israel's First Leader to Become President of Israel

Teresa Neumann : Dec 29, 2014
Jonna Lorenz – Newsmax

"Assuming moral responsibility for the decisions of others" that might conflict with his conscience was just one of his reasons.

(Israel)—Historical fact: In 1952, Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann asked world-famous physicist Albert Einstein if he would lead the nation as the next president. (Photo via History.com)

A letter, according to the Jewish Virtual Library, reveals the question from Prime Minister Ben Gurion being put to Einstein.

In part, it reads: "The question embodies the deepest respect which the Jewish people can repose in any of its sons. To this element of personal regard, we add the sentiment that Israel is a small State in its physical dimensions, but can rise to the level of greatness in the measure that it exemplifies the most elevated spiritual and intellectual traditions which the Jewish people have established through its best minds and hearts, both in antiquity and in modern times."

Newsmax reports that Einstein was "deeply moved, and at once saddened and ashamed," by the fact that he couldn't accept the position. (Photo via History.com)

In his written response, Einstein said, "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 also noted however that his relationship to the Jewish people "has become my strongest bond, ever since I became fully aware of our precarious situation among the nations of the world."