Wiener was born inColumbia, Missouri, the first child ofLeo Wiener and Bertha Kahn,Jewish immigrants fromLithuania andGermany, respectively. Through his father, he was related toMaimonides, the famousrabbi, philosopher and physician fromAl Andalus, as well as toAkiva Eger ,chief rabbi ofPosen from 1815 to 1837.
eBay