Emma Lazarus Poster & Resources | The Center for Jewish-Inclusive Learning Portal

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History

Topic

Jewish American Heritage

Summary

Meet Emma Lazarus, a poet and activist from the late 1800s, in this poster and resources from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Lazarus was a descendant of some of the first Jewish settlers in North America. She demonstrated the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger and dedicated her life to making society more open, inclusive, and accepting. Lazarus is most widely known for her poem, “The New Colossus,” which was added to the Statue of Liberty in 1903 and became a beacon of hope for immigrants who yearned for a better life.

Her work represented the following Jewish values:

Welcoming the stranger

Championing immigrants

Promoting social justice

These resources feature Lazarus as part of a poster series recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month at the Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History. Classroom learning resources such as lesson plans, teaching materials, children’s books, and videos of picture books being read aloud are included. Professional learning resources, including websites, books by Emma Lazarus, biographies, videos, and podcasts, are also provided.

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