The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic symbols of America. Few public objects portray more powerfully American ideals of acceptance and freedom. Yet is it possible that the Statue of Liberty is most appropriately considered a Jewish statue? How might we define a work of art as Jewish? Is it determined by the identity of the face depicted or cultural identity of the sculptor? Or by the sponsor and champion who brought it into the public space?

While the face of the statue is not of a Jew nor was the sculptor Jewish, many attributes of the statue reflect a deep Jewish connection, specifically the imprint on the status made by the Jewish American poet, Emma Lazarus. The message at the pedestal beckons the world to “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Significantly, Lazarus based this poem on ideas that are distinctly Jewish, words drawn straight from the Torah that state how we are to treat the stranger. This lecture will explore the efforts of Emma Lazarus as philanthropist, social reformer, and poet, specifically her work to bring the Statue of Liberty into public display and through her poetic inscription installed at its pedestal that has provided its unique cultural significance. We will assess if these contributions sufficiently define the Statue of Liberty as a Jewish construction.

Clifford Wilcox, Ph.D., is a historian who focuses on American intellectual and cultural history and Jewish Studies. His courses concentrate on the intersection of culture, ideas, politics, and religion in American history. He is Director of Education and Operations at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, CA and has taught in the CLU FAB program since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.