Music Lover Albert Einstein Reaches Out to Aid a Hero of the Holocaust and Old Friend Who Has Just Escaped from Germany, and Who Sought to Obtain a Flute

A generous demonstration by Einstein of his loyalty to friends and belief in the importance of music

Dr. Theodor Rosenheim was a physician at the famed Medical University Clinic of the Charité in Germany in the 1880s. He was primarily concerned with the physiology and pathology of the digestive tract. He published an early textbook on the “Pathologie und Therapie der Krankheiten des Verdauungsapparates”. Rosenheim was one of the first in Germany to describe and publish on ulcerative colitis. He was intensively involved in the technical development of esophagoscopy and gastroscopy, which at that time were only possible with rigid instruments. The Rosenheim line, which was named after him, described the largest diagonal diameter of the gastric percussion figure.

Rosenheim was appointed professor (extraordinarius) at Berlin University in 1921. He also founded a polyclinic and a private sanatorium for stomach and intestinal patients. He was well respected in Berlin and his private practice developed successfully with a large circle of patients, including Albert Einstein.

Theodor’s wife was Hedwig Rosenheim and their daughter Kate was a hero of the Holocaust. She helped several thousand children from Jewish families to escape from Germany. She personally accompanied the legendary Kindertransporte to England, among other places. She travelled to the USA in 1936 to negotiate directly with the aid organizations there. She then returned to Germany to actively continue the aid campaigns. Theodor died in 1939. Käte Rosenheim was able to flee Berlin together with her 72-year-old mother Hedwig Rosenheim on January 23, 1941. They reached Havana, Cuba, via France, Spain, and Portugal. From there they were able to continue to New York, where they arrived on April 1, 1941.

Albert Einstein was an accomplished violinist and music lover who was inspired by music in his scientific work. He often said that he would have been a musician if he hadn’t pursued science. Another music lover was Hedwig Rosenheim. She had escaped Germany without her possessions, especially her precious musical instruments. Upon arrival in the United States, she contacted the old family friend, Albert Einstein, hoping he could help her get a flute, either for herself or another escapee, one who may have agreed to look for her. Einstein was sympathetic and rose to the occasion. He even contributed some of his personal funds to secure the flute.

Typed letter signed, his vacation house in Knollwood at Saranac Lake, N.Y., September 11, 1941, to his old friend Mrs. Hedwig Rosenheim in New York City. “ The matter of [i.e. the quest for] the flute shall not fail. First, one should know what the committee is giving out – or loaning. Second, there is the Hebrew Free Loan Society, 108 Second Ave., New York, which in such cases provides interest-free loans in exchange for the backing of two guarantors. I will serve as a guarantor and contribute 20 dollars on top of that. The man should visit both institutions and can show this letter. In the hope of receiving a positive report soon, I remain, with warm greetings, your A. Einstein.” “PS. Starting next week, my address will again be in Princeton.” The committee he referred may have been the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, though there were others as well.

It shows a lot about Einstein – his generosity, his continued concern for old friends who had escaped from Germany, and love for music – that he volunteered to make a personal financial contribution to obtaining the flute.