Morris Michael Edelstein
Portrait by Kaidenc. 1940
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's14th district
In office February 6, 1940 – June 4, 1941
Preceded by	William I. Sirovich
Succeeded by	Arthur G. Klein
Personal details
Born	Morris Michael Edelstein (1888-02-05)February 5, 1888 Meseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski),Congress Poland, Russian Empire
Died	June 4, 1941(1941-06-04) (aged 53) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Mount Zion Cemetery,Maspeth
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	St. Lawrence University
Occupation	Lawyer

Morris Michael Edelstein (February 5, 1888 – June 4, 1941) was aPolish-borncongressionalrepresentative and lawyer from the state ofNew York, serving from 1940 to 1941.

Edelstein was born inMeseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski),Congress Poland (then a part of theRussian Empire). At three years of age immigrated to theUnited States with his parents, who settled inNew York City. He attended public schools andCooper Union College in New York. He graduated from theBrooklyn Law School ofSt. 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.

Edelstein was elected as aDemocrat to theSeventy-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofWilliam I. Sirovich. He was reelected to theSeventy-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.

Edelstein's last speech occurred on June 4, 1941. He took the floor to respond toMississippi RepresentativeJohn Elliott Rankin, widely described as ananti-Semite who advocated peace withNazi Germany. Rankin had just delivered a House floor speech accusing "international Jewish brethren" of trying to drag America intoWorld 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 orGentile, 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 inMount Zion Cemetery,Maspeth, New York.^[4] 15,000 mourners attended his funeral.^[1]

TheSSM. Michael Edelstein, aWorld War IIliberty ship, was named in his honor.

• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
• List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1900–1949)

• United States Congress."Morris Michael Edelstein (id: E000041)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

• 1888 births
• 1941 deaths
• 19th-century American Jews
• 20th-century American Jews
• Brooklyn Law School alumni
• Cooper Union alumni
• Jewish United States representatives
• American people of Polish-Jewish descent
• Emigrants from Congress Poland to the United States
• Burials at Mount Zion Cemetery (New York City)
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
• People from Międzyrzec Podlaski
• 20th-century New York (state) politicians
• 20th-century United States representatives

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