Emma Lazarus was born on July 22, 1849, in New York City.
Emma Lazarus was born into a prominent Sephardic Jewish family in New York City on July 22, 1849. Her upbringing in a culturally rich environment set the stage for her illustrious career as a poet and advocate. Her early exposure to literature and education, along with her Jewish heritage, profoundly influenced her work and her later involvement in advocating for Jewish immigrants.