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Albert Einstein: Rebel. Reject. Genius.

March 19, 2026 · 47 min

Show notes

Jewish History Nerds won two Signal Awards, gold and listener's choice in the history category. If you enjoy this show, please comment wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back soon with a brand new season of episodes.

In part 1, Schwab and Yael explore the lesser-known Einstein, from failure and fame to Jewish identity, assimilation, and the world that pushed him to see himself differently. Albert Einstein is one of the most famous people in history, but the real story is far more surprising. Before he became a global icon, he was a struggling patent clerk, an outsider, and a Jew trying to figure out where he belonged.

Please continue with Part 2 on Einstein's Jewish identity, his complicated relationship with Zionism, and the question the Nazis asked loudly: was his science Jewish?

Listen here: https://unpacked.media/albert-einstein-was-he-a-zionist-part-2/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVI8IuNsKEc&list=PLgPaAFlsq_5O5LUa1VdshRsUonWjKk1ZK&index=17

Be in touch. Write to us at [email protected]. We really want to hear from you.

Sources and Summary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1glzkac4zuorw5VTvs_ewMnj77A7xayJVZlmf61rEkM0/edit?usp=sharing

Watch Yael and Schwab on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out the video of this episode.

Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a brand of OpenDor Media. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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