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{{short description|American politician}}
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[[File:M. Michael Edelstein.jpg|thumb|M. Michael Edelstein, Congressman from New York]]


{{Infobox officeholder
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'''Morris Michael Edelstein''' (February 5, 1888 – June 4, 1941) was a [[Poland|Polish]]-born [[U.S. Congress|Congressional]] [[U.S. House of Representatives|Representative]] from the state of [[New York]]. Edelstein was born in [[Międzyrzec Podlaski|Meseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski)]], [[Poland]], and at three years of age immigrated to the [[United States]] with his parents, who settled in [[New York, New York|New York City]]. He attended public schools and [[Cooper Union|Cooper Union College]] in New York. He graduated from the [[Brooklyn Law School]] of [[St. Lawrence University]], in 1909, and was admitted to the bar in 1910 and practiced law in New York. Edelstein was elected as a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] to the [[Seventy-sixth United States Congress|Seventy-sixth Congress]] to fill the vacancy caused by the death of [[William I. Sirovich]]. He was reelected to the [[Seventy-seventh United States Congress|Seventy-seventh Congress]] and served from February 6, 1940, until his death on June 4, 1941, in the cloakroom of the House of Representatives, [[Washington, DC]], after completing the delivery of a speech on the floor of the House.
| image name=M. Michael Edelstein.jpg
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| caption=M. Michael Edelstein, Congressman from New York
| state=[[New York (state)|New York]]
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| district=[[United States House of Representatives, New York District 14|14th]]
| party=[[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]]
| term_start=February 6, 1940
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| term_end=June 4, 1941
| preceded= [[William I. Sirovich]]
| succeeded=[[Arthur G. Klein]]
|birth_name=Morris Michael Edelstein
| birth_date={{birth date|1888|2|5}}
| birth_place=[[Międzyrzec Podlaski|Meseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski)]], [[Poland]]
| death_date={{death date and age|1941|6|4|1888|2|5}}
| death_place=[[Washington, D.C.]], United States
| spouse=
| children=
| religion=
| occupation= lawyer
| residence=
| alma_mater= St. Lawrence University
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}}
'''Morris Michael Edelstein''' (February 5, 1888 – June 4, 1941) was a [[Poland|Polish]]-born [[U.S. Congress|Congressional]] [[U.S. House of Representatives|Representative]] and lawyer from the state of [[New York (state)|New York]], serving from 1940 to 1941.


==June 4, 1941==
== Biography ==
Edelstein was born in [[Międzyrzec Podlaski|Meseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski)]], [[Poland]]. At three years of age immigrated to the [[United States]] with his parents, who settled in [[New York, New York|New York City]]. He attended public schools and [[Cooper Union|Cooper Union College]] in New York. He graduated from the [[Brooklyn Law School]] of [[St. Lawrence University]], in 1909, and was admitted to the bar in 1910 and practiced law in New York.
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Edelstein's last speech was a response to [[Mississippi]] Representative [[John Elliott Rankin]], widely described as an [[anti-Semitism|anti-Semite]] who advocated peace with [[Nazi Germany]]. Rankin had just delivered a House floor speech accusing "international Jewish brethren" of trying to drag American into [[World War II]].


Edelstein lived with his mother until the end of his life, having never married.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harpaz |first=Beth |date=2022-06-03 |title=He denounced antisemitism in Congress, then dropped dead |url=https://forward.com/news/504609/congressman-death-heart-attack-anniversary-antisemitism/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref> His mother was 85 at the time of his death.
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In response, Edelstein, who was of Jewish ancestry, said: "[[Hitler]] started out by speaking about 'Jewish brethren.' It is becoming the play and the work of those people who want to demagogue to speak about their 'Jewish brethren' and 'international bankers.' ... I deplore the idea that ... men in this House ... attempt to use the Jews as their scapegoat. I say it is unfair and I say it is un-American. ... All men are created equal, regardless of race, creed or color, and whether a man be Jew or [[Gentile]], he may think what he deems fit."<ref>{{cite news |title=Edelstein Dies After Clash with Rankin in House over Anti-jewish Speech |first= |last= |url=http://archive.jta.org/article/1941/06/05/2854463/edelstein-dies-after-clash-with-rankin-in-house-over-antijewish-speech |newspaper=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=5 June 2012 |accessdate=4 June 2012}}</ref> Edelstein then walked out of the House. He collapsed and died shortly afterwards in the House cloakroom.


=== Congress ===
He is buried in [[Mount Zion Cemetery (New York City)|Mount Zion Cemetery]], [[Maspeth, Queens|Maspeth]], New York.
⚫
Edelstein was elected as a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] to the [[Seventy-sixth United States Congress|Seventy-sixth Congress]] to fill the vacancy caused by the death of [[William I. Sirovich]]. He was reelected to the [[Seventy-seventh United States Congress|Seventy-seventh Congress]] and served from February 6, 1940, until his death on June 4, 1941, in the cloakroom of the House of Representatives, [[Washington, D.C.]], after completing the delivery of a speech on the floor of the House.

==Death==
⚫
Edelstein's last speech was a response to [[Mississippi]] Representative [[John Elliott Rankin]], widely described as an [[anti-Semitism|anti-Semite]] who advocated peace with [[Nazi Germany]]. Rankin had just delivered a House floor speech accusing "international Jewish brethren" of trying to drag America into [[World War II]].

⚫
In response, Edelstein, who was Jewish, said: "[[Hitler]] started out by speaking about 'Jewish brethren.' It is becoming the play and the work of those people who want to demagogue to speak about their 'Jewish brethren' and 'international bankers.' ... I deplore the idea that ... men in this House ... attempt to use the Jews as their scapegoat. I say it is unfair and I say it is un-American. ... All men are created equal, regardless of race, creed or color, and whether a man be Jew or [[Gentile]], he may think what he deems fit." Edelstein then walked out of the House. He collapsed and died shortly afterwards in the House cloakroom.<ref>{{cite news |title=Edelstein Dies After Clash with Rankin in House over Anti-jewish Speech |url=http://archive.jta.org/article/1941/06/05/2854463/edelstein-dies-after-clash-with-rankin-in-house-over-antijewish-speech |newspaper=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=5 June 1941 |accessdate=4 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606011837/http://archive.jta.org/article/1941/06/05/2854463/edelstein-dies-after-clash-with-rankin-in-house-over-antijewish-speech |archivedate=6 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Edelstein Dies After House Talk — New Yorker Makes a Reply to Rankin's Charges on Jews and Collapses in Lobby — Heart Attack Is Cause — He Is Praised by Colleagues — Lived All But First Three Years in Own District|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/06/05/87618362.html?pageNumber=24|accessdate=23 April 2017|work=New York Times|date=June 5, 1941|page=24}}</ref>

He is buried in [[Mount Zion Cemetery (New York City)|Mount Zion Cemetery]], [[Maspeth, Queens|Maspeth]], New York.<ref>{{cite news|title=Edelstein Funeral Today|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/06/06/87619200.html?pageNumber=20|accessdate=23 April 2017|work=New York Times|date=June 6, 1941|page=20}}</ref> 15,000 mourners attended his funeral.<ref name=":0" />


==Legacy==
==Legacy==


The [[SS M. Michael Edelstein|SS ''M. Michael Edelstein'']], a [[World War II]] [[liberty ship]], was named in his honor.
The [[SS M. Michael Edelstein|SS ''M. Michael Edelstein'']], a [[World War II]] [[liberty ship]], was named in his honor.

==See also==
*[[List of Jewish members of the United States Congress]]
*[[List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)]]


==References==
==References==
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{{Reflist}}

==External links==
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{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 76th-77th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[United States congressional delegations from New York|New York]]}}
{{USCongRep/NY/76}}
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{{authority control}}
==References==


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{{Reflist}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Edelstein, Morris Michael
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = February 5, 1888
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
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| DATE OF DEATH = June 4, 1941
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelstein, Morris Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelstein, Morris Michael}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century American Jews]]
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[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Cooper Union alumni]]
[[Category:Cooper Union alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Polish Jews]]
[[Category:Emigrants from Congress Poland to the United States]]
[[Category:Congress Poland emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Burials at Mount Zion Cemetery (New York City)]]
[[Category:Burials at Mount Zion Cemetery (Maspeth, New York)]]
[[Category:Death in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:New York Democrats]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:People from Międzyrzec Podlaski]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century New York (state) politicians]]
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[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]

Latest revision as of 00:31, 8 December 2024

Morris Michael Edelstein
M. Michael Edelstein, Congressman from New York
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 14th district
In office
February 6, 1940 – June 4, 1941
Preceded byWilliam I. Sirovich
Succeeded byArthur G. Klein
Personal details
Born
Morris Michael Edelstein

(1888-02-05)February 5, 1888
Meseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski), Poland
DiedJune 4, 1941(1941-06-04) (aged 53)
Washington, D.C., United States
Political partyDemocratic Party
Alma materSt. Lawrence University
Occupationlawyer

Morris Michael Edelstein (February 5, 1888 – June 4, 1941) was a Polish-born Congressional Representative and lawyer from the state of New York, serving from 1940 to 1941.

Biography

[edit]

Edelstein was born in Meseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski), Poland. At three years of age immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in New York City. He attended public schools and Cooper Union College in New York. He graduated from the Brooklyn Law School of St. Lawrence University, in 1909, and was admitted to the bar in 1910 and practiced law in New York.

Edelstein lived with his mother until the end of his life, having never married.[1] His mother was 85 at the time of his death.

Congress

[edit]

Edelstein was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William I. Sirovich. He was reelected to the Seventy-seventh Congress and served from February 6, 1940, until his death on June 4, 1941, in the cloakroom of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., after completing the delivery of a speech on the floor of the House.

Death

[edit]

Edelstein's last speech was a response to Mississippi Representative John Elliott Rankin, widely described as an anti-Semite who advocated peace with Nazi Germany. Rankin had just delivered a House floor speech accusing "international Jewish brethren" of trying to drag America into World War II.

In response, Edelstein, who was Jewish, said: "Hitler started out by speaking about 'Jewish brethren.' It is becoming the play and the work of those people who want to demagogue to speak about their 'Jewish brethren' and 'international bankers.' ... I deplore the idea that ... men in this House ... attempt to use the Jews as their scapegoat. I say it is unfair and I say it is un-American. ... All men are created equal, regardless of race, creed or color, and whether a man be Jew or Gentile, he may think what he deems fit." Edelstein then walked out of the House. He collapsed and died shortly afterwards in the House cloakroom.[2][3]

He is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, Maspeth, New York.[4] 15,000 mourners attended his funeral.[1]

Legacy

[edit]

The SS M. Michael Edelstein, a World War II liberty ship, was named in his honor.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Harpaz, Beth (2022-06-03). "He denounced antisemitism in Congress, then dropped dead". The Forward. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  2. ^ "Edelstein Dies After Clash with Rankin in House over Anti-jewish Speech". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 5 June 1941. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Edelstein Dies After House Talk — New Yorker Makes a Reply to Rankin's Charges on Jews and Collapses in Lobby — Heart Attack Is Cause — He Is Praised by Colleagues — Lived All But First Three Years in Own District". New York Times. June 5, 1941. p. 24. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Edelstein Funeral Today". New York Times. June 6, 1941. p. 20. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 14th congressional district
1940-02-06 – 1941-06-04 (died) 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morris_Michael_Edelstein&oldid=1261797591"