How One Jewish Poet Changed the Meaning of America

Jewish History Nerds won two Signal Awards, gold and listener's choice in the history category. If you enjoy this show, please comment wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back soon with a brand new season of episodes.

Emma Lazarus gave the Statue of Liberty its most famous words, but her own life defied the immigrant story she helped define. Born into a wealthy, deeply rooted Jewish American family, she became a literary prodigy, challenged Ralph Waldo Emerson, confronted antisemitism, and gradually embraced Jewish advocacy. Discover the complicated woman behind “Give me your tired, your poor” and the ideals America still debates today.

Schwab and Yael explore the story of Emma Lazarus in the first of two episodes.
Poems by Emma Lazarus (poetryfoundation.org/poets/emma-lazarus)

Emma Lazarus by Esther Schor⁠ (penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/48619/esther-sc…)

If you like this show, please rate and write a review wherever you get your podcasts. And be in touch. Write to us at nerds@unpacked.media.

And if you missed the first episode in the series, please check out The First Jews in the Americas: Fleeing the Inquisition. (unpacked.media/the-first-jews-in-the-americas-…) Emma Lazarus' family was part of the first wave of Jews to the Americas.

Be in touch. Email us at nerds@unpacked.media.

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a brand of OpenDor Media. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram.

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