Einstein’s Theory of Infidelity
The Hebrew University this week released a treasure-trove of letters written by Albert Einstein between 1912 and 1955, the year of the physicist’s death. The correspondence shows that in addition to his knack for unlocking the secrets of the universe, Einstein was also a supremely prolific philanderer. Remarkable also is the candor with which he discussed his extramarital dalliances with his second wife, Elsa, and her daughter, Margot. “It is true that M. [Einstein mistress Ethel Michanowski] followed me to [England],” Einstein wrote in a 1931 letter to his stepdaughter, “and her chasing after me is getting out of control.”
Margot’s will stipulated that the university was to keep the correspondence sealed until the 20th anniversary of her death, July 8, 2006.
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
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