I believe in Spinoza’s God, Who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God Who concerns Himself with the fate and the doings of mankind.
[Ich glaube an Spinozas Gott der sich in gesetzlicher Harmonie des Seienden offenbart, nicht an Gott der Sich mit Schicksalen und Handlungen der Menschen abgibt.]
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
Correspondence with Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein (1929)
(Source)
Response to Goldstein's telegram asking, "Do you believe in God?" following attacks on Einstein as being an atheist. Reported in the New York Times (25 Apr 1929).
Rabbi Goldstein was my father’ s first cousin as was Julius Silver, Co founder of Brandeis University. Goldstein and Einstein were fast friends that argued frequently. Any archives on this will be appreciated. Thanks. Joan Silver George 310-985-9271
Thanks for the inquiry, Joan; it encouraged me to update this post with some new citation information, including links to the NY Times article where this was reported, and the original German of Einstein’s reply. Some added context can also be found here: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Einstein_on_Politics/7mmYDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22spinoza%27s%20god%20who%20reveals%22
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