This article is part of our morning briefing. Click here to get it delivered to your inbox each weekday. How Albert Einstein inspired Mandy Patinkin to rescue refugees
Mandy Patinkin, star of stage, screen and social media, has a less-known line on his resume: helping save refugees. I spoke with Patinkin as part of the reporting for my book, The Einstein Effect, which chronicles the myriad ways that the world’s favorite genius continues to shape our lives long after his own death. The journey took me across the United States and to both Israel and Japan. I interviewed dozens of Einsteins – including not one, but two Rabbi Einsteins — as well as celebrities like Patinkin. The book’s official publication date is today, and Forward readers are getting an exclusive peek inside. Refugee rescues refugees: After Einstein fled Nazi Germany and landed safely on the shores of the United States, he launched the International Rescue Committee to help his fellow German Jews. He used his own money to resettle some in Alaska, Mexico and other places willing to take them. The IRC is today one of the world’s largest refugee aid organizations. Its spokesman is Mandy Patinkin. |
Helping hand: Patinkin started volunteering with the IRC in 2015, when he was filming the spy thriller TV series Homeland in Berlin and heard about the 125,000 Syrians fleeing their war-ravaged homeland. “I’m looking at photos of these people in lines, trekking, and they reminded me of my ancestors fleeing the pogroms of Poland and Belarus,” Patinkin told me. “I thought: There but for the grace of God go I.”
‘The theory of relatives’: Patinkin knew well the history of the organization’s founder, who was also active in the civil rights movement. “Einstein flees one situation, comes to safety, and immediately has the courage to speak out,” Patinkin said. “In my life, what he’s known for is not the theory of relativity, but the theory of relatives.” |
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during an appearance last week on Fox News. (Getty) |
We need to talk about RFK Jr.’s antisemitic conspiracy mongering: Our language columnist, Aviya Kushner, argues that the Democratic presidential challenger’s comments represent a toxic blend of old and new hatreds – blood libels with a contemporary twist. “The idea that Jews are either responsible for disease or not dying quickly enough from disease is a throwback to the medieval era,” she says. And the framing of Ashkenazi Jews as a race plays into the modern-day great replacement theory, “which was behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter’s rage and was often amplified by Tucker Carlson.” Read the essay ➤ Related: House Republicans refused a watchdog group’s request that they disinvite Kennedy from a Thursday hearing where he is to testify about censorship. Left-wing Democrats are boycotting the Israeli president. What other heads-of-state speeches have Congress members skipped? When Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivers his address on Wednesday, a few seats in the House chamber will be empty: At least five Democrats have announced they will stay away to protest Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and other policies. Turns out there’s a long history of this kind of thing, targeting leaders from Iraq, India and even a pope. Our intern Gall Sigler rounded up other examples. Read the story ➤ Meanwhile: The pro-democracy protest movement in Israel urged Congress members not boycott to Herzog or oppose Israel because of the judicial overhaul plan. And one more: Readers respond to our recent Bintel Brief advice columns on bullying, sluttiness, retirement, Nazi memorabilia and more. |
The Borscht Belt is Back! Join us for the day-long festival taking place in downtown Ellenville and featuring stand-up comedy, art, live music, film, educational programming – and of course food. Visit https://www.borschtbeltfest.org/ to purchase tickets to the ticketed events and get more info about the event. |
WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY |
? Antiquities belonging to Israel’s national treasures collection have been stranded at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. Israeli authorities have tried unsuccessfully to have the items returned. The former president is currently under investigation for refusing to return documents stored at his home to the U.S. National Archives. (Haaretz) ?? In a phone call Monday, President Joe Biden invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with him in Washington, after months of tension between the two leaders. No date has been set. (JTA) ? Israel is seeking to buy a $12.5 million home for its ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog. The D.C. mansion is 10,000 square feet, with seven bedrooms, a wine cellar and a pool. Israel’s existing ambassadorial residence is in disrepair. Herzog, the brother of Israel’s president, has been living in a $25,000-a-month rental. (Haaretz, Times of Israel) ⚖️ Lawyers painted dueling pictures Monday of Robert Bowers, the man who killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, at the opening of his trial’s sentencing phase: “That of an unrepentant killer motivated by his hated of Jews,” as one reporter described it, “and of a psychologically damaged loner with a terrible childhood who fell under the influence of online extremists.” (AP) ? The Israel Basketball Association last year allowed a team of Orthodox boys to bar a girl on an opposing team from playing in their game. Now the girl’s family is suing the organization. (Haaretz) ? Update: We recently shared the story of an Orthodox Jewish contestant on the show American Ninja Warrior who brought with him young adults with disabilities who play sports through his nonprofit — and whose participation in the show never aired because he dropped out rather than film on Shabbat. Two weeks after our partners at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported on this, NBC released a 47-second montage of their participation on the set. (JTA) Shiva calls ➤ Beverly Moss Spatt, who fought to protect New York landmarks including Grand Central Terminal and the Queensboro Bridge, died at 99 … Harry G. Frankfurt, a philosopher who wrote a surprise best seller, On Bullshit, died at 94.
What else we’re reading ➤ A non-denominational yeshiva opens in Scotland … ‘Brigadoon’ for Jewish singers attracts hundreds … Moments after deciding not to join JDate, he met his match on Twitter (and she is Jewish). |
On this day in history (1290): The Edict of Expulsion was signed by Edward I, effectively banishing all Jews from the Kingdom of England. It was the result of a compromise amid growing debt. Parliament agreed to raise taxes in exchange for the expulsion of England’s 3,000 Jews — many of whom worked as money lenders. The edict was the first of its kind in Europe, and was soon followed by expulsions from France, Spain and Portugal. It was three centuries before Jews were invited to settle again in England.
In honor of National Caviar Day, our Yiddish editor, Rukhl Schaechter, and chef Eve Jochnowitz show you how to make “poor man’s caviar” in this video. |
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the first of three Republican presidential candidates to speak at the Christians United for Israel conference on Monday in Arlington, Virginia. “You have different things that go on in Israel, like with this judicial reform,” he told a crowd estimated at 1,500. “Biden needs to butt out of that and let Israel govern itself.” — Thanks to Jaclyn De Bonis, Jacob Kornbluh, Jodi Rudoren, Gall Sigler and Talya Zax for contributing to today’s newsletter. You can reach the “Forwarding” team at editorial@forward.com. |
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