{{Short description|Latvian politician, journalist and lawyer}} {{Infobox person | name = Max Lazerson | image = .פרופ' לזרסון-JNF044755.jpeg | alt = | caption = Professor Lazerson, April 1936 | native_name = מתתיהו לזרסון | birth_name = Max Matatyahu Laserson | birth_date = {{Birth date|1887|2|1}} | birth_place = Jelgava, Russian Empire (present day Latvia) | death_date = {{Death date and age|1951|11|29|1887|2|1}} | death_place = New York City, New York, USA | native_name_lang = hebrew | other_names = Max Laserson, Max M. Laserson, Maksis Lazersons, Larsons, M. Ya. (pseudonym) | occupation = Politician, jurist, philosopher | years_active = 1917-1940s | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Maksis "Max" Lazerson''' ({{langx|lv|Maksis Lazersons}}; 1 February 1887 in Jelgava, Russian Empire (present day Latvia) – 29 November 1951 in New York City, New York, USA) was a Latvian politician, jurist and philosopher. He was a member of Saeima from 1922 to 1925 and again in 1928 to 1931. He led the Ceire Cion party during the interwar period in Latvia.
== Biography == Lazerson was born in Jelgava, present day Latvia in a Jewish merchant family of Jacob Zusman Lazerson. Lazerson had 7 siblings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jacob Zusman Lazerson|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Jacob-Lazerson/6000000094262254847|access-date=2021-03-20|website=geni_family_tree|date=8 May 1855 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1905, he joined the socialist movement and finished Realschule of Jelgava.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNKNOWN {{!}} דבר {{!}} 22 מרץ 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/03/22/01/article/27|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227232351/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/03/22/01/article/27|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Maksis Lazersons paredzēja Latvijas okupāciju|url=https://www.la.lv/maksis-lazersons-paredzeja-latvijas-okupaciju/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=LA.LV|language=lv}}</ref>
From 1906 to 1910, he studied at the Faculty of Law in the University of Saint Petersburg and graduated with honors. In 1916 he was appointed a lecturer at this university. In 1917, after February revolution, he joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Provisional Government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=? לבואו' של פרופ' לזרסון-ל_^ ן '."? {{!}} דאר היום {{!}} 14 מרץ 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1934/03/14/01/article/40|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823175057/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1934/03/14/01/article/40|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1920 he left the Soviet Union and returned to Latvia, where he became involved with the Ceire Cion party. He taught at the School of Economics and the Russian university in Riga.
In 1922 to 1925 and from 1928 to 1931 he was a delegate in Saeima of the Republic of Latvia (Latvian Parliament),<ref>{{Cite web|title=טלגרמות מיוחדות ל"דבר {{!}} דבר {{!}} 9 אוקטובר 1928 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1928/10/09/01/article/6|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823174126/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1928/10/09/01/article/6|url-status=dead}}</ref> where he worked together with the left-wing parties, and to protect the rights of minorities in general and Jews in particular.<ref>{{Cite web|title=בתנועה ובמפלגה. {{!}} הפועל הצעיר {{!}} 26 דצמבר 1924 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/hhr/1924/12/26/01/article/27|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823172455/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/hhr/1924/12/26/01/article/27|url-status=dead}}</ref> Among other things, he struggled, without success, to force compulsory rest on Sundays.<ref>{{Cite web|title=שי"ד־יייבגרכ־-ג >* דזר_*דגומ 0 {{!}} דאר היום {{!}} 7 פברואר 1926 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1926/02/07/01/article/15|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228155638/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1926/02/07/01/article/15|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also succeeded in allowing Jewish schools to teach in Hebrew, contrary to the position of the Bund, which required them to teach only in Yiddish.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNKNOWN {{!}} דבר {{!}} 22 מרץ 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/03/22/01/article/27|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227232351/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/03/22/01/article/27|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lazerson was also active in the association of Hapoel Hatzair and Tzeirei Zion and was its deputy on the Zionist General Council.<ref>{{Cite web|title=52חברי.היעד.הפועל הציוני {{!}} דבר {{!}} 23 ספטמבר 1927 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1927/09/23/01/article/14|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In the November 1931 election, Larsson lacked a few votes to be re-elected and dropped out.<ref>{{Cite web|title=על עטים ומדינות {{!}} דבר {{!}} 2 נובמבר 1931 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1931/11/02/01/article/19|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
In March 1934, Lazerson visited Mandatory Palestine to attend a meeting of the Zionist General Council.<ref>{{Cite web|title=חיתן _,החקקר ��גמור אן1 הםכםון בחורה? {{!}} דבר {{!}} 11 מרץ 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/03/11/01/article/6|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Following the Latvian coup d'état of Ulmanis on May 15, 1934, Lazerson was banned as a leftist, at the same time as abolishing cultural autonomy for Jews.<ref>{{Cite web|title=הקץ לאנטוטמיה _בלאםביה {{!}} דבר {{!}} 28 מאי 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/05/28/01/article/16|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823171105/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/05/28/01/article/16|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 1934, Larsson was released from custody,<ref>{{Cite web|title=ל1* I דאר ־ה יום " " טלגרמות {{!}} דאר היום {{!}} 4 נובמבר 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1934/11/04/01/article/24|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228062259/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1934/11/04/01/article/24|url-status=dead}}</ref> having admitted to leave Latvia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ך ח 9 ר ז ר ח 4\ 1 5£ 1 _3_$_7 # /!2<3 {{!}} דבר {{!}} 28 ספטמבר 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/09/28/01/article/31|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> After his release he immigrated<ref>{{Cite web|title=למגדלי דבורים {{!}} דבר {{!}} 1 פברואר 1935 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1935/02/01/01/article/18|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> to Mandatory Palestine,<ref>{{Cite web|title=נפתחה מועצת הברית בפולי! {{!}} דבר {{!}} 10 דצמבר 1934 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1934/12/10/01/article/2|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> where he arrived in January 1935. In 1935 he was one of the founders of the Higher School of Law and Economics in Tel Aviv,<ref>{{Cite web|title=תל־אביב {{!}} דאר היום {{!}} 21 פברואר 1935 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1935/02/21/01/article/87|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he|archive-date=2024-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823174222/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1935/02/21/01/article/87|url-status=dead}}</ref> where he gave lectures in general jurisprudence and economics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=בבית הספר הגבוה למשפט ולכלכלה {{!}} דאר היום {{!}} 28 אפריל 1935 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1935/04/28/01/article/24|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
Later, he stayed in the US, worked in Justice Department, and then went on to serve as a professor of public international law at Columbia University.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Untitled {{!}} מעריב {{!}} 2 דצמבר 1951 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1951/12/02/01/article/17|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.nli.org.il|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2, 1951|title=דבר, 2 דצמבר 1951|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1951/12/02/01/article/11/?e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1|access-date=March 20, 2021|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823172001/https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1951/12/02/01/article/11/?e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxTI--------------1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Lazerson died on 29 November 1951, aged 64 in New York<ref name="jta">{{cite web|date=2 December 1951|title=Max Lazerson. Noted Labor Zionist, Educator, Dies at 64|url=https://www.jta.org/1951/12/03/archive/max-lazerson-noted-labor-zionist-educator-dies-at-64|accessdate=18 February 2017|publisher=JTA}}</ref>
== Bibliography == * Laserson, Max M (1950). ''The American impact on Russia: diplomatic and ideological, 1784-1917''. New York: Macmillan Company. OCLC 35720365. * Laserson, Max M (1945). ''Russia and the western world; the place of the Soviet union in the comity of nations,''. New York: Macmillan Co. OCLC 491858. * Laserson, Max M (1943). ''The development of Soviet foreign policy in Europe,''. New York: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Division of Intercourse and Education. OCLC 1361944. * Laserson, Max M (1937). ''On the Mandate; documents, statements, laws and judgments relating to and arising from the Mandate for Palestine''. Tel-Aviv: "Igereth". OCLC 933974. * Laserson, Max M (1933). ''Die russische Rechtsphilosophie'' (in German). Berlin-Grunewald: W. Rothschild. OCLC 16693454. * Laserson, Max M (1927). ''Staat, Souveränität und Minorität'' (in German). Riga: B. Lamey. OCLC 6653092.
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * Критико-биографический словарь русских писателей и ученых (от начала русской образованности до наших дней). СПб, 1889—1914.
== External links == * {{LibraryThing author|id=lasersonmaxm}} * [https://findingaids.library.columbia.edu/ead/nnc-rb/ldpd_4079008 Max M. Laserson Papers, 1900-1951 at] Columbia University Libraries
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lazerson, Max}} Category:1887 births Category:1951 deaths Category:People from Jelgava Category:People from Dobele county Category:Jewish Latvian politicians Category:Ceire Cion politicians Category:Deputies of the 1st Saeima Category:Deputies of the 2nd Saeima Category:Deputies of the 3rd Saeima Category:Jewish philosophers Category:Latvian jurists Category:Latvian emigrants to Mandatory Palestine Category:Emigrants from Mandatory Palestine to the United States Category:American people of Latvian-Jewish descent