Remembering Lisa Alter Krule

I first met Lisa when she was 14, and I was starting my professional career as the United Synagogue Youth (USY) regional director in Chicago. Even as a high school student, Lisa made an impression. She started out as my student, and became my colleague, my teacher, and my friend. Our friendship lasted over 40 years.

Lisa passed away on Sept. 1. She was 57.

She was born in Buffalo, N.Y., then adopted; she grew up in Glenview. Her mother died while she was in high school, and her father while she was a student at Western Illinois University, so Lisa helped raise her younger siblings. But she moved forward with grit and determination.

Lisa joined the B’nai Chai USY group at her synagogue, Northwest Suburban Jewish Congregation. She became the USY advisor, and ultimately a youth director. She also worked for JCC Chicago, and ran a day camp and Me and My Dad programs at Am Shalom in Glencoe.

Then, for 14 years, Lisa held my former position as USY regional director. Ultimately, she became director of the Midwest Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, then national director of young adult engagement, and director of the annual USY international convention.

Before coming to JUF, she worked as Chicago director of Moving Traditions–working to shape the values of young adolescents.

But her final position was with JUF, as Chicago trip director for IsraelNow (formerly Ta’am Yisrael). After we endured the heartbreaks of COVID, we finally got back to Israel this past March. It was, perhaps, her 30th trip to Israel, but also her last. It is an honor for me to be in Jerusalem while writing in her memory.

Lisa had visited Israel for the first time in her 20s, and it was love at first sight. Working for IsraelNow became her dream job. For her, Israel was not only a place, but a vehicle to instill young people with values and Jewish pride. IsraelNow was a way to instill a sense of Jewish peoplehood and community–in Israel, in Chicago, and beyond. At Mt. Herzl cemetery, she would speak about the sacrifices made by young people during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence.

Then there was her feminism–the pallbearers she selected for her funeral were all women. I wish you could have heard her speak to teens at the Western Wall, about the struggle of being a woman facing religious challenges. I could tell you about her advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ community, her volunteer efforts, and more. Above all, Lisa was a mentor and friend to hundreds.

The home she built with her husband, Michael, was a Jewish home. Their sons, Alex and Eli, went to Solomon Schechter, Chicagoland Jewish High School (now Rochelle Zell Jewish High School), and Camp Ramah. Like their mom, they were involved in USY.

We were the unlikeliest of friends. She was a Cubs’ fan; I am a White Sox fan. Her favorite season was fall; mine is spring. She loved white wine; I love red. But that’s who Lisa was. She accepted people for who they were.

Her friends received birthday cards without fail, and gifts for no reason. Her Shabbat table was constantly filled with old and new friends, colleagues, an acquaintance passing through–or a new member of her synagogue, Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook. A visit to her family sukkah became mandatory. She loved to laugh.

The world is a bit darker without Lisa’s presence–yet as incongruous as this may seem, the sun is shining even brighter because of her presence.

The wonderful and beloved wife of Michael, she was the devoted and loving mother of Dr. Alex and Eli. She was the cherished sister of Barbara Snyder and Joel (Hilary) Alter and the treasured sister-in-law of Elaine (Dr. Isaac) Daniel, Larry Krule (Susan Fader), and Lesley Zaretsky. The dear daughter of the late Elex and Freda Alter, she was the amazing aunt and cousin of many. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. Arrangements were made by Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, with interment at Shalom Memorial Park.

Richard Moline is the Assistant Vice President of Israel Education at JUF.