Emma Lazarus

Dorktales Podcast: Episode 84

Hidden Heroes of History

Emma Lazarus

A story of empathy in action and the power of words! Emma Lazarus’ life is a testament to courage and compassion—from her literary work to her tireless advocacy for Jewish immigrants coming to America for the chance of better lives. Her most iconic poem, The New Colossus, helped raise the funds to build the Statue of Liberty. The poem’s timeless message of welcoming ‘the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free,’ has remained as a symbol of hope and inclusion for generations. 

In this episode, Redge learns about making a family tree, so enjoy this free PDF showing the family tree of Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog.

Did You Know?

Emma Lazarus was a writer, poet, and an activist who wrote “The New Colossus,” for the Statue of Liberty symbolizing America’s promise of freedom for all.

Emma Lazarus was born in 1847 and grew up in New York City. She came from a Sephardic Jewish family and, long before she was born, her ancestors fled the country of Brazil. They left because Jewish people were being treated unfairly just for being Jewish.

In the 1880s, many Jewish people were fleeing Russia for the same reason and arrived in the United States as immigrants. An immigrant is someone who comes to a new country to live permanently. Because of Ms. Lazarus’ family background, she felt a connection with the new people coming to her country. She stood up for rights of Jewish immigrants who came to the United States to feel safe and get a fresh new start on their lives.

A mitzvah is the word Jewish people use to describe a good deed. In her lifetime, Ms. Lazarus did a lot of mitzvahs including starting the Hebrew Technical School. Because the Jewish people were being treated so poorly in Russia, they didn’t have the training to find employment. Schools like the Hebrew Technical School taught them different skills so they could get a job and pay for things like food and a place to live. Ms. Lazarus also volunteered to help Jewish immigrants find shelter in New York when they first arrived.

Emma Lazarus support for Jewish immigrants in America showed up in her writing and poetry.

Ms. Lazarus’ love of writing started when she was very young. When she turned 17, her father, who was a wealthy merchant, paid to have her first book of poetry printed. She went on to write about many different topics as plays, essays, books, drama, poetry and a novel.

As an activist for Jewish immigrants, she wrote about their struggles and experiences when they first arrived in their new country. She wrote a book of poems called Songs of a Semite where she talked about how wrong it was to treat Jewish people unkindly just for being Jewish.

Her most important poem is one that many Americans know, but many don’t know she wrote it. It’s called The New Colossus:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Emma Lazarus wrote the poem for the Statue of Liberty. Known as “Lady Liberty,” the statue stands in the Upper New York Bay in New York City. It was often the first site immigrants saw when they entered the United States by Ship. The Statue of Liberty was a symbol of hope for a new and better life for so many of them.

Ms. Lazarus’ poem raised money for the statue so it could be built. The poem sits at the base of the statue to this day, sending the message that all are welcome in the United States of America, no matter religion, background, or race.

Emma Lazarus’ life is a legacy on the value of kindness and compassion for others.