Lisa Weiner

Lisa (Lisl) Weiner was born in Vienna, Austria. Antisemitism was rampant after Nazi Germany invaded the country. To ensure that their Jewish baby would make it home alive from the hospital, her family watched her closely. As the Nazi persecution of the Jews increased, Lisa, her mother and her grandmother escaped to Budapest, Hungary. Betrayed by their smugglers, Lisa's father died in a synagogue bombing; her aunt died in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Captured by the Nazis, Lisa's family feared certain death in Auschwitz. Lisa got separated and sent to an orphanage. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg through a Protective Passport from Sweden, she reunited with her family. They resettled in Appleton for her stepfather's job. Lisa graduated high school and college, married and raised three children. After a successful career as a teacher and fundraiser, Lisa serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Moses Montefiore synagogue with great dedication. Lisa is responsible for the welfare of her congregation. Due to the rising antisemitism of our time, their safety is always on her mind.

Lisa had little freedom growing up. Terrified of losing her only child again, Lisa's mother was extremely strict and did not let her go anywhere alone. Lisa could not participate in school field trips and had to decline her full scholarship to George Washington University. In a time when mental health or trauma survival was not considered, Lisa focused on what she could control and learning became her outlet. She thrived academically, even though she did not speak English at first. With resilience and determination, she changed her name from Lisl to Lisa and immersed herself in school and American life.

Lisa leads with ingenuity. She persists and finds a way. Starting school for the first time in third grade in the United States, Lisa honed her incredible work ethic, caught up and made the honor roll. Directing phonathons and traveling across the country, she raised millions of dollars for universities, including Lawrence University. She cared for her ailing husband until his passing. Lisa has no time for holding grudges and gossip. Wisely, she is fully focused on what we can achieve together. She shares her own story courageously to draw attention to the horrors of war and to the recent dramatic rise of antisemitism. Lisa hopes that everyone will speak up and act to safeguard American democracy and prevent a repetition of history.

- Written by Juliane Troicki of Illuminating Project