Emma Lazarus Lazarus was a Jewish writer and activist. She was born to a wealthy family in New York. Luckily, even though she was a woman, she had a great education. She is most famous for her poetry. She started publishing her work in the late 1860s to early 1870s. In her earlier years there was not explicit acts of discrimination. However, in 1877 a highly publicized event took place turning the tide. Anti-Semitism began to spread throughout Europe as Eastern European Jewish immigration rose; in turn the American tolerance lessened. In America the populous viewed the Sephardic elite, like Lazarus’s family, as the “true Hebrews” and German immigrants as “Seligman Jews” which were undesirable. In the 1880s Lazarus began her anti-discrimination efforts in full. She often traveled to Europe to help fight the persecution of Jewish communities. In 1883 she contributed her most famous poem, “The New Colossus,”, which is engraved into the pedestal of the statue of liberty.
Monument
The Star of David, made with stained glass and lead came, depicts an American flag within. It is stationed on a mound that pale yellow roses grow out from. The yellow roses symbolize friendship, well-being, and optimism. This monument is to represent peace and acceptance within America for Jewish communities. The glass is stained with the American flag colors and gold for the outer points.
George Mason University Mason Pond
The Mason Pond at the GMU Fairfax campus is a desirable location due to the serenity of the area and the ample foot traffic. Since the monument will be stained glass the undiminished light will be able to shine through the glass as all times.
New York City Central Park The mall - Literary Walk
The Literary Walk in The Mall of central park is the most opportune spot for this monument. Not only was Lazarus born in New York but this walk has contributions to many other poets. With the areas atmosphere being perfect for writing and reflection this would be a great location.
Venus of the Louvre 1885
Down the long hall she glistens like a star, The foam-born mother of Love, transfixed to stone, Yet none the less immortal, breathing on. Time’s brutal hand hath maimed but could not mar. When first the enthralled enchantress from afar Dazzled mine eyes, I saw not her alone, Serenely poised on her world-worshipped throne, As when she guided once her dove-drawn car,—
In the Jewish Synagogue at Newport - 1867
Here, where the noises of the busy town, The ocean’s plunge and roar can enter not, We stand and gaze around with tearful awe, And muse upon the consecrated spot. No signs of life are here: the very prayers Inscribed around are in a language dead; The light of the “perpetual lamp” is spent That an undying radiance was to shed.
What prayers were in this temple offered up, Wrung from sad hearts that knew no joy on earth, By these lone exiles of a thousand years, From the fair sunrise land that gave them birth!
Age and Death - 1888
Come closer, kind, white, long-familiar friend, Embrace me, fold me to thy broad, soft breast. Life has grown strange and cold, but thou dost bend Mild eyes of blessing wooing to my rest. So often hast thou come, and from my side So many hast thou lured, I only bide Thy beck, to follow glad thy steps divine. Thy world is peopled for me; this world’s bare.
The South - 1878
Night, and beneath star-blazoned summer skies Behold the Spirit of the musky South, A creole with still-burning, languid eyes, Voluptuous limbs and incense-breathing mouth: Swathed in spun gauze is she, From fibres of her own anana tree. Within these sumptuous woods she lies at ease, By rich night-breezes, dewy cool, caressed: ’Twixt cypresses and slim palmetto trees,
By the Waters of Babylon 1887
1. The Spanish noon is a blaze of azure fire, and the dusty pilgrims crawl like an endless serpent along treeless plains and bleached highroads, through rock-split ravines and castellated, cathedral-shadowed towns.
2. The hoary patriarch, wrinkled as an almond shell, bows painfully upon his staff. The beautiful young mother, ivory-pale, well-nigh swoons beneath her burden; in her large enfolding arms nestles her sleeping babe, round her knees flock her little ones with bruised and bleeding feet. “Mother, shall we soon be there?”
The New Year - 1882 Not while the snow-shroud round dead earth is rolled, And naked branches point to frozen skies.— When orchards burn their lamps of fiery gold, The grape glows like a jewel, and the corn A sea of beauty and abundance lies, Then the new year is born. Look where the mother of the months
Work - 1871 Yet life is not a vision nor a prayer, But stubborn work; she may not shun her task. After the first compassion, none will spare Her portion and her work achieved, to ask. She pleads for respite,—she will come ere long When, resting by the roadside, she is strong.
Contributions She was proud to state that she was a Jewish poet and used many of her writings to speak out against the persecution of Jews in Europe and anti-Semitism in America. She later travel around Europe to partake in social reform. Not only was she a proud female Jewish writer but she was also a great person. In her free time, she often volunteered for many immigrant Jewish communities. In 1883 she established the Society for the Improvement and Colonization of East European Jews. She was so influential that in 1951 the Emma Lazarus Federation of Jewish Women’s Club was established. This organization fought anti-Semitism and racism while celebrating Jewish culture and striving to provide leadership to women in Jewish communities. Even today, there are scholarships founded with her name, she is an inspiration to many women and minorities.
Gabrielle Torrijos George Mason University