Why We Chose This Book: On a Beam of Light

Long before Albert Einstein was a household name, he was just a boy with a powerful imagination. This story of a Jewish hero underscores the potential each person’s creative mind holds.

But Albert didn’t appear to be an “Einstein” at first. Slow and dreamy, he was viewed by others as a bit odd. His parents accepted him as is, and he remained a little odd his whole life, but that didn’t stop him from making great contributions and sharing his intellectual gifts with the world.

Einstein, known for being a strong cultural Zionist, was actually offered the presidency of the state of Israel in 1952. He turned it down, understanding that he was a better thinker than politician and had far more experience dealing with “objective matters” than with people. He did say, “My relationship to the Jewish people has become my strongest human bond, ever since I became fully aware of our precarious situation among the nations of the world."

This book is being shared with families in time for Yom Ha’atzmaut, the anniversary of the modern day State of Israel being founded. 2018, marks a special anniversary as Israel celebrates 70 years of independence.