Irving M. Engel, a prominent New York lawyer, worldwide champion of human rights and a leading figure in American Jewish community affairs for many years, died at his home today of a stroke at the age of 87. Engel was an honorary president of the American Jewish Committee. He served as national president of the AJCommittee from 1954-59.
Born in Birmingham, Ala., Engel was graduated from Yale University Law School Magna Cum Laude in 1913. Throughout his career, he was active in the field of human rights, including the civil rights movement in the United States.
During his tenure as president of the AJCommittee, he was made a member of the French Legion of Honor for his international activities on behalf of human rights and was admitted to the grand order of Nicham Iftikhar, the Tunisian Legion of Honor. In tribute to his accomplishments, the AJCommittee established the Irving M. Engel Fund for Social Justice in 1971 on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
