Leon Sanders

Leon Sanders was born on May 25, 1867, in Odessa, Russian Empire, to Nathan Sanders and Elka Green.^[1] He immigrated to America with his parents as a child.^[2] Sanders attended New York Law School while working as a clerk for the Commissioner of Jurors in New York City. He was admitted to the bar in 1895.

Sanders began his career working as a clerk for Drake, Mastin & Company, and later as a bookkeeper for the Baumann Brothers and Edison General Electric Company. He eventually specialized in legal matters related to distilleries and wholesale liquor houses, establishing himself as a prominent business lawyer.^[3]

A leader in Tammany Hall, Sanders was known for his oratory and debating skills. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1898 as a Democrat, representing New York County's 12th District. He served from 1899 to 1902.^[4] In 1903, Sanders was elected as a Justice of the New York City Municipal Court, serving until 1913 when he resigned to return to private law practice.^[1]

In the 1916 United States congressional election, Sanders ran as the Democratic candidate for New York's 12th congressional district but lost to Socialist Meyer London.^[5]

Sanders was deeply involved in Jewish causes and fraternal organizations. He served as president of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society and chaired the Committee on Immigration of the American Jewish Congress. Sanders also held leadership roles as Grand Master of the Independent Order of B'rith Abraham and president of the Jewish Fraternal Congress. He was a member of the board of governors of the Jewish Maternity Hospital and a founder and president of Temple Beth-El in Cedarhurst.^[2]

In 1896, Sanders married Bertha Fischer.^[3] They had three children: Frances Van Pragg, Theresa Penner, and Nathan N.^[6]

Leon Sanders was killed in a car accident in California on August 18, 1937. He was buried in Mount Lebanon Cemetery.^[7]