Dr. Weitzer retired in 2022 after ten years as the Executive Director of the Leo Baeck Institute. The Leo Baeck Institute is a research library and archive that documents the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry, primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries, but also including documents dating back to the Middle Ages. It was founded in 1955 as a repository for the books, papers, photos and documents that were salvaged from Central Europe after World War II. Dr. Weitzer also has over thirty years of experience in higher education at the University of Massachusetts, Wesleyan University, and Fairfield University. In addition to his professional accomplishments, community involvement has been a priority in Dr. Weitzer’s life. While at the University of Massachusetts, he served on its Hillel Board and later was active in addressing equity and diversity issues in the West Hartford (CT) public schools. He currently serves on the board of Kolot Chayeinu in Brooklyn and volunteers his time for causes in support of democracy in the U.S. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Rabbi Lisa D. Grant, professor at the Hebrew Union College, whose parents, Murray and Marilyn Grant founded the Jordan River Village. Billy and Lisa have two adult children, Hannah and Nate.
