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By Morgan Sturm ’19
When Robert Weiner, professor of history, first arrived at Lafayette at the age of 26, he was the second youngest faculty member, and the College was an all-male institution. Fifty years later, Weiner, who plans to retire in May, reflects on a golden teaching career.
Bob Weiner has remained active on campus in his last semester. Most recently, he gave a lecture on Feb. 27 on the origins of World War II, which was filmed by the nonprofit cable and satellite television network C-SPAN.
In his junior year, while a student at both Temple University and Gratz Hebrew College, Weiner made his decision to become an educator. Before this decision, he was on a “dual track” to pursue either academia or rabbinic school.
“It was a very hard decision because in my generation, no one did that,” he says. “No one became a college professor. But history was my love.”
Weiner remembers being fascinated by history as far back as age 10. He credits his historic sensibility to his father, who used to talk to him about history and his World War II experiences.
“My dad had basically taught me so much about so many things that in elementary school I was sometimes referred to as the human dictionary,” he says.
Weiner was hired at Lafayette by Al Gendebien ’34, head of the history department at that time. “He became my second father,” Weiner says. Gendebien asked Weiner to teach Modern Jewish History, a first at the College. The two also obtained a grant from the Foundation for Jewish Culture in New York with the help of Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, which funded the first Hebrew language course in recent memory at Lafayette, Weiner says.
As a seven-time recipient of the Student Government Superior Teaching Award and 2009 winner of the James E. Lennertz Prize for exceptional teaching and mentoring among other awards, Weiner has gone above and beyond to connect with his students.
“I don’t teach history, I teach students,” he says. “What I happen to teach them about is history. I see my students as an extension of my family, and I treat them the way I want my own children to be treated. That’s the only way I know.”
Weiner also has been an integral figure in the development of the College’s Hillel Society throughout his 50 years, serving as both a director and the Jewish Chaplain for the society.
Sydney Edelson ’19, acting co-president of Hillel, describes Weiner as a “walking advocate” for Hillel members.
“What’s unique about him is that he isn’t just praising the work we’ve already done. Behind the scenes, he takes the initiative to seek out and search for opportunities for us,” Edelson says. “He is always willing to share with us, and he just beams with pride.”
In Hillel Society’s early years, Weiner was a key proponent for creation of Hillel House, established on campus three years after he came to Lafayette.
“One of Bob’s real talents is in his interest and ability to make community,” says Ethan Berkove, professor of mathematics. “As he put this together and as he was helping to form [Hillel] in its early years and beyond, he was trying to find a place where people would be comfortable.”
At Lafayette, Weiner taught in areas like European history and Jewish history. In 2005, Weiner published a series of lectures titled “The Long Nineteenth Century” with The Teaching Company. He also co-wrote with history department colleague Richard Sharpless the oral history An Uncertain Future: Voices of a French Jewish Community, published in 2012.
Lafayette students are not Weiner’s only audience. He has built a YouTube following as well; his online lectures have generated about 150,000 views. His most popular one, “The Origins of World War II,” has been watched nearly 90,000 times.
“I’m glad that people get a chance to listen to what I think,” he says.
Following his retirement, Weiner says he will be spending half of his time in Florida and visiting more with his grandchildren. He says he will most miss his students, colleagues, and his office in Ramer History House.
“This is home,” he says. “Where will I put my books?”
6 Comments
Bob Weiner became my faculty advisor at Lafayette when I switched my major to History, but he was more than that – Bob was like the wise older brother you had or wanted to have growing up who dispensed sage advice. Being a “townie” who grew up on College Hill, I also knew Bob from his involvement with Easton’s Jewish community and B’Nai Abraham Synagogue, where he was and is still held in the highest regard. It was a privilege to have been his student and an honor to call him a friend. Rabbi Gerard said it best, Bob is a Mensch.
Bob Weiner is a mensch inside the classroom and outside the halls of Lafayette. I would often enjoy conversations with him and challenge him with questions that troubled me (I especially recall one about “limpieza de sangre” and the Spanish Inquisition) and he always had an insightful answer. He was my teacher of history, of pedagogy, and of human relations. May he go from strength to strength.
As a Class of 1974 International Affairs major I was lucky to have had Professor Weiner teaching me multiple times early in his career at Lafayette. I really love history and his teaching made me even more enthusiastic about the subject. I always remember him having said that one of his earliest memories was of the death of Joseph Stalin and how happy it made him and his family. I am sure that a lot of people agreed.
Have a great retirement Professor.
Professor Weiner is an outstanding educator. I took a 2 semester course on modern European history in 1973-74 with him. Although one of the younger professors in the Lafayette history department at that time, he stood shoulder to shoulder with his older colleagues like Professor Richard Welch and Professor Albert Gendebien regarding his depth of knowledge and presence in the classroom. His course material was jam- packed with interesting stories of historical figures which took the stage in Europe from the French revolution to the modern era. Even though his courses drew a large number of students, he always had time for questions offering thoughtful responses that added to the lecture topics. His teaching style is what drew students to his classes. Following graduation in 1975,I lived in Germany twice in the following 20 years and traveled throughout Europe, both east and west. Never far from my mind was Prof. Weiner’s teachings regarding these tumultuous lands and peoples. It would have been fun to circle back to Lafayette to discuss my observations with Prof. Weiner to let him know the large impact he had on my education and subsequent appreciation for European history. So many students, an academic life well lived. Thanks Prof. Weiner – you are a real Mensch! All the best to you.
I matriculated at Lafayette in 1971 – one of the earlier years of coeducation on campus. Some of my fondest memories of Lafayette are of Robert Weiner and my times at Hillel. I wish him much happiness in a much deserved retirement.
With warmest regards,
Terri Roth Reicher
Congratulations to a true scholar and gentleman. Professor Weiner was one of my favorites. He never raised his voice but he always raised my interest in the subject. It was an honor to learn from him.
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