A Century Later

On Thursday, February 9, 2023, a special ceremony took place at the Technion’s historic campus, where Madatech – the National Museum of Science, Technology and Space in Haifa – is housed today. The event, attended by Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, and Chairman of Madatech’s Board of Directors Mr. Leon Recanati, was held to celebrate 100 years since the historical palm trees were planted by Prof. Albert Einstein and his wife, Elsa, on February 11, 1923, in the courtyard of the Technion’s historic campus in Haifa.

A tribute plaque in three languages, Hebrew, English and Arabic, was placed by the newly planted tree, bearing the following inscription:

“This tree was planted on 9 February 2023 by Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan and Madatech Board of Directors Chairman Mr. Leon Recanati.

This festive occasion marks 100 years since Prof. Albert Einstein and his wife Elsa planted two palm trees in this courtyard of the Technion’s historic campus.

These trees symbolize Technion’s deep-rooted role in the establishment and blossoming of the State of Israel and signify its continuing success for the next 100 years.”

R-L: Yossi Ani, Madatech General Director; Mr. Leon Recanati; Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan and his three grandchildren, Shakked, Carmel and Ofri

“The Technion’s history is closely intertwined with the life of Prof. Albert Einstein, a genius among the Jewish people and all of humanity,” said Technion President, Prof. Uri Sivan, who planted the tree with his grandchildren Shakked, Carmel and Ofri. “Prof. Einstein did a great deal for the Technion, even before it opened its doors, and his visit exactly one hundred years ago was intended to express his support for the institution, which would change the face of the Jewish community in Mandatory Palestine, and shape the character of the country that would be established twenty-five years later. Now, one hundred years since, we are gratified to be planting an oak tree together with the future generation, in honor of the next one hundred years.”

Mr. Leon Recanati, Chairman of Madatech’s Board of Directors: “We are proud that Einstein’s vision and his dreams for the future generations are being realized here, in a place that imparts the experience of the beauty and wisdom of science to thousands of visitors each year, especially to the youngest among them, who get to experience and enjoy, to understand and investigate. I am certain that some of them absorb the inspiration and later, transform it into the choice of science subjects and the pursuit of a career in the field. The museum experience and fascinating scientific exhibits, in tandem with the Department of Education and lab experiments, delivers a complete, firsthand experience that encourages people to touch, to experience, and most of all, imparts the insight that science is everywhere, it is present, and it touches every sphere, it is the magic, the essence and the spirit of our existence.”

The tree planting ceremony took place with the participation of the fifth- and six-graders of the Hebrew Reali School in Hadar, Haifa.

During his historic visit, Prof. Einstein met Jewish children who were raised and lived in Mandatory Palestine, and wrote in his diary: “For the first time, I see so many Hebrew children, and I express my deep gratitude to you for the pleasure you have given me”. Had he met Israeli children and members of the young generation today, he would most certainly have been proud. At the ceremony, the Reali students read aloud letters to the children of the future, who in one hundred years’ time will enjoy the shade of this tree. Reali fifth-grader Naomi Yuval wrote, “I am proud to be standing here, next to the palm tree planted by Albert Einstein, the man who is considered the greatest genius of all time, in the Madatech courtyard at our school”.

Sixth-grader Noa Krimmer wrote, “May these be one hundred peaceful years, with no wars, only success and achievements, only the laughter of children, sounds of joy, without tears.”

The palm tree planted by Albert Einstein in front of the Technion historical building

Prof. Einstein’s first visit to the Technion was in February 1923. An article covering the visit, published in the Palestine Daily Mail on February 14, 1923, stated that the festive reception held for the couple in Haifa was attended by 1,500 people. “At 11 a.m., the committee held a communal reception in the Technikum [Technion] courtyard, and the heavens helped and decided to treat the guest well, when after Friday’s rain the skies cleared and a half-springlike sun baked the earth, as if it sought to emphasize to the guest that his one foot was still in the Diaspora, while the other was standing on the soil of our country”.

At the Reali School, Prof. Einstein told his hosts that on the ship sailing to Palestine his pipe had broken, and he couldn’t fix it himself because, “With us Jews, everything has been concentrated in the brain, and nothing was left in the hands.” For this reason, Einstein added, “In this Technikum building, I see the desire to develop the hands.” He added that the concept of the Technikum was close to his heart, and he hoped to help promote it as much as possible.