Abstract
Besides being the best-known scientist of the 20th Century, Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was an active militant for pacifism as well as a strong supporter of the idea of a Jewish state. Frequently, pacifi sm and nationalism are considered to be oposed to each other, as the first is asociated with an internationalism incompatible with the second. After discussing some features of secular anti-Zionism in Europe, Jewish nationalism or Zionism is discussed as a reaction to the failure of the Jews to be assimilated in Central and Eastern Europe during the first half of last century. In the case of Einstein, the difficult but still possible reconciliation between pacifism and nationalism is described, citing texts and biographical facts.
