Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Who knew?...

In all my 48 years did I ever know that Emma Lazarus, the lady who wrote the verse on the Statue Of Liberty, was Jewish? (Okay... shut up about my age!)

Emma Lazarus was an American author of poetry, prose, and translations, as well as an activist for Jewish causes. She was born in New York City and is buried in Brooklyn at Beth Olam cemetery.

Of course we all heard of her. She wrote "The New Colossus," the lines inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Like my departed spouse, she was a Sephardic Jew, whose family came originally from Portugal. They were among the 23 P...