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The Night I Met Albert Einstein
It was a dark and stormy night. Isn’t that the way a great story is supposed to begin? Well, it was a dark and stormy night and I was attending the U.S. Navy Pre-Midshipman School at Princeton University. It was a cold March in 1941 or maybe 1942. It’s been so long ago that I can’t be sure of the year.
I was sent to Pre-Midshipman School because my training at the Navy’s V-12 program had been completed and the start of Midshipman School at Northwestern University, being out of sync with the academic calendar, would not be starting for another month or more. So the Navy parked us at Princeton for some training in advance of Midshipman School.. It was sort of a prep school for what was to come later.
Anyhow, as I said before, it was March and it was at the time when Jews all over the world would be celebrating the Passover holiday. Passover, for those who might not know, celebrates and remembers the time that Moses led the Jews out of Egypt to freedom in the holy land. It is a unique religious holiday because, unlike most other Jewish and Christian holidays, it is traditionally celebrated with one’s family in the home. It is a warm and loving service with good food; wine, singing, where everybody participates as it brings family members together from wherever they may be located to celebrate together. And there I was, in the Navy, at Princeton University.
During the afternoon before the first night of Passover word came over the school’s P.A. system that Pre-midshipmen of the Jewish faith who wanted to observe Passover should fall out to the dormitory quadrangle at 18 hundred hours (6 P.M.). About 15 or 20 of us out of a student body of approximately 300 turned up in a cold rain and were marched over to a nearby eating hall.
Now let me stop and explain to you that at that time, and maybe even today, Princeton students didn’t eat in large dining halls or cafeterias as are common on so many college campuses. They had ‘eating halls.’ Eating halls are essentially individual houses, like fraternity houses, where members ate all their meals exclusively. It was to one of these that we were marched.
We arrived and found that the Jewish Welfare Board had set it up handsomely. There were matzoth, wine, the Seder plate, haggahdoth (Passover prayer books) and place settings with silverware and napkins that we hadn’t seen in months. After we were seated and before the service and meal were started, the Chaplain stood and announced that we were to be joined by a special guest.
The door opened and in walked Albert Einstein! As I remember it, he looked just like photos show him in his older years: a bushy head of hair that looked uncombed, a rumpled suit, a smile and a grandfatherly twinkle in his eyes. I’m not sure if he had his pipe.
To the 18 or 19 year olds that we were he could have been our grandfather. It was a thrilling and exciting moment.
The religious service began. Everyone participated, including Professor Einstein. I remember that when this was completed, a wonderful Passover dinner was served.
After the meal Einstein was asked if he would deliver a few words to these future Naval officers. His talk lasted about 15 minutes and except for one thought, I’m unable to recall what it was he spoke about. But that one thought must have made an impression on me because after all these years I haven’t forgotten it. In fact it’s something I’ve tried to do all of my life. The message he delivered so many years ago that I still remember was, “Never stop learning.”
I’ll be 82 this year on April 29th and I’m still following Albert Einstein’s advice. I haven’t stopped learning.
I was sent to Pre-Midshipman School because my training at the Navy’s V-12 program had been completed and the start of Midshipman School at Northwestern University, being out of sync with the academic calendar, would not be starting for another month or more. So the Navy parked us at Princeton for some training in advance of Midshipman School.. It was sort of a prep school for what was to come later.
Anyhow, as I said before, it was March and it was at the time when Jews all over the world would be celebrating the Passover holiday. Passover, for those who might not know, celebrates and remembers the time that Moses led the Jews out of Egypt to freedom in the holy land. It is a unique religious holiday because, unlike most other Jewish and Christian holidays, it is traditionally celebrated with one’s family in the home. It is a warm and loving service with good food; wine, singing, where everybody participates as it brings family members together from wherever they may be located to celebrate together. And there I was, in the Navy, at Princeton University.
During the afternoon before the first night of Passover word came over the school’s P.A. system that Pre-midshipmen of the Jewish faith who wanted to observe Passover should fall out to the dormitory quadrangle at 18 hundred hours (6 P.M.). About 15 or 20 of us out of a student body of approximately 300 turned up in a cold rain and were marched over to a nearby eating hall.
Now let me stop and explain to you that at that time, and maybe even today, Princeton students didn’t eat in large dining halls or cafeterias as are common on so many college campuses. They had ‘eating halls.’ Eating halls are essentially individual houses, like fraternity houses, where members ate all their meals exclusively. It was to one of these that we were marched.
We arrived and found that the Jewish Welfare Board had set it up handsomely. There were matzoth, wine, the Seder plate, haggahdoth (Passover prayer books) and place settings with silverware and napkins that we hadn’t seen in months. After we were seated and before the service and meal were started, the Chaplain stood and announced that we were to be joined by a special guest.
The door opened and in walked Albert Einstein! As I remember it, he looked just like photos show him in his older years: a bushy head of hair that looked uncombed, a rumpled suit, a smile and a grandfatherly twinkle in his eyes. I’m not sure if he had his pipe.
To the 18 or 19 year olds that we were he could have been our grandfather. It was a thrilling and exciting moment.
The religious service began. Everyone participated, including Professor Einstein. I remember that when this was completed, a wonderful Passover dinner was served.
After the meal Einstein was asked if he would deliver a few words to these future Naval officers. His talk lasted about 15 minutes and except for one thought, I’m unable to recall what it was he spoke about. But that one thought must have made an impression on me because after all these years I haven’t forgotten it. In fact it’s something I’ve tried to do all of my life. The message he delivered so many years ago that I still remember was, “Never stop learning.”
I’ll be 82 this year on April 29th and I’m still following Albert Einstein’s advice. I haven’t stopped learning.
Comments and critiques on this Story.
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Permalink Reply by iScribed.com on -
That must have been an amazing dinner! Thanks for sharing.
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Permalink Reply by TStark on -
What a night and what a story. Perhaps we could reshape our "Letters to Famous People" book to include a "Brushes with Fame" sort of tribute section. It's apparent that the brush strokes of Einstein's words painted an impression on you. WOW. You really made me want to be there. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Loni Grant on -
Amazing, that`s a great story Cal. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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Permalink Reply by Nelle Miller on -
After all these years, there is still so much to learn about you! A great story, wonderful writing!
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Permalink Reply by Brian Ehrlich on -
Wow,
what an experience! Thanks
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Permalink Reply by Jack Kraaz on
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What a gift.
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