Alter Wiener comes to this year’s Animal Law Conference to share his incredible life story, wisdom and uplifting perspective of the world. Mr. Wiener was born in October of 1926 in Chrzanów, Poland. He lived a quiet and traditional life with his family in Chrzanów until at a young age he was deported from his home by Nazi officers in the middle of the night. Mr. Wiener was then enslaved for three years in five forced labor and concentration camps.

Mr. Wiener survived the Holocaust – the only survivor of his immediate family. As a teenager he was faced with the challenge of building a new life, alone. When liberated, Mr. Weiner weighed eighty pounds and was burdened with many health issues. His health did not improve until he became a strict and dedicated vegetarian. Although Mr. Wiener initially became vegetarian for health reasons, he also observes a connection between the Holocaust he survived and the ongoing holocaust of animals, especially farmed animals. Mr. Wiener is one of only a few Holocaust survivors living in the Portland area. To date, he has shared his story and philosophies with over 530 audiences in the states of Oregon and Washington. His speaking venues include schools, prisons, hospitals, libraries and the like. Mr. Wiener’s words are truly transformative. He has now received over 16,000 letters from people thanking him for his work and expressing how his talks deeply affected them. Mr. Wiener did not have the opportunity to attend school during his formative years. Still, he has earned honorary degrees from both Warner Pacific College and Lewis & Clark Law School. His autobiography, From a Name to a Number, was published in 2007 and continues to receive rave reviews.