Rabbi Michael Steven Weisser

Michael Weisser Obituary

Rabbi Michael Steven Weisser

May 5, 1941 - April 1, 2024

Rabbi Michael Steven Weisser of Elmira, NY, and previously Lincoln, NE, died April 1, 2024, from complications of injury sustained during a car accident. He spent his final moments surrounded by his children and his close friends, at peace and without pain. He was 82.

Memorial services will be held in Lincoln, NE, and Elmira, NY, on dates to be decided.

Condolences, words of comfort may be viewed at www.bakerfamilyfuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lincoln Journal Star on Apr. 11, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Weisser

14 Entries

Zion Isaac Cohen

May 5, 2025

In the fall of 2012, my husband and I met Rabbi Michael Weisser in our search for a rabbi to marry us! Since my husband was Israeli and I am American, we needed someone who would understand both cultures and understand us as a couple! We found in Michael a sensitive, warm and beautiful person and soul who made us feel accepted, welcomed and joyful. We spent many a Shabbat evening with him, learning more about Judaism, his faith and our own identities. We always came away from these ceremonies, reflecting the light of his radiance. Of course, Rabbi Michael presided at our wedding and we were so honored that he led the ceremony! When he left Queens, New York, we knew that we had lost a very meaningful person in our lives. We stayed in touch with him over the last years and were deeply saddened to hear of his passing. We know that he was loved and cherished by many and are happy to be among those who honor him now.
Sincerely.
Joan Kavadlo Cohen & Zion Isaac Cohen

Connie Backus-Yoder

May 2, 2025

May 5, 2025 celebrating your birthday by remembering the beautiful light that shone through you!!!!

Lyn Kaufman

May 5, 2024

This morning I tried to call Michael to wish him happy birthday, the way we always do. When I found his number disconnected, I googled him and was shocked to find out that he died. What a terrible loss to the world to have such a great man gone too soon. We spent many a night at his house in Lincoln, sharing dinner with the family. He came to Florida from Lincoln with us to do the funeral for Richard's mother so many years ago. We loved him and will miss him. He leaves behind such a huge legacy of kindness and teaching, and will be so well-remembered.

Todd Goldman

April 26, 2024

My family and I will always remember Rabbi Weisser fondly. His warmth and kindness helped my family find a community and a spiritual home at the Free Synagogue of Flushing. And his talent for helping our children feel that they belonged to and were valued by the community was an extraordinaary gift. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

Sheri Packwood Conner

April 24, 2024

I met Micheal in the 80's in Lincoln, NE. He was a wonderful person and an inspiring human. Condolences to the family.

Connie Backus-Yoder

April 21, 2024

Rabbi Michael will always have a cherished space in my heart. As the organist at South Street Temple for almost 5 years and attending the Saturday morning Torah study I found him to be a valuable mentor to me in my spiritual walk.

Rev. Mar Melchizedek, OSB

April 17, 2024

I knew him well, he was my friend. We worked together in the Lincoln Interfaith Council, I visited the South Street Temple and was spiritually uplifted at a Passocer Ceder he gave. May his memory last forever. I am saddened, but God (Jahweh), who is the arbiter over life and death, has called him. His divine will be done. Memory eternal, dear Cantor Michael Weisser.

Janelle J

April 12, 2024

Rabbi Weisser was a good man.
He generously officiated our interfaith wedding with compassion and kindness.
And 5 years later with equal kindness, he supported my efforts to convert before our first child was born. He was a part of our daughter's naming and our first sons bris before he left the area.
His memory has been and will always be a blessing to our family and I hope others' memories are as joyful.

Margaret Scott

April 11, 2024

Melody Frost

April 11, 2024

I and my husband would like to convey our condolences to the family for your loss Mike was a wonderful person and we are so glad we had the last year here in Elmira as his neighbor and friends we loved our conversation and enjoyed having him in our home last Thanksgiving and feeding the deer with him he will truly be missed Thomas and Melody Frost

Serena Reeves

April 8, 2024

I was privileged to meet him as a child, and even joined his family for Passover once. In college I was lucky to have him as a religion professor. He was kind, funny and very welcoming. I'm sad at the news of his passing, but happy I was able to know him.

Maria Cadwallader

April 8, 2024

I had always wanted to be a Jew. Michael made that possible for me by welcoming me to B'nai Jeshurun/South Street Temple in 1999, taking me through the steps for conversion, and welcoming me to the Jewish family in his back yard during the Sukkah celebration in 2000. He also provided over my wedding to Dean Cadwallader in 2002. I will always remember him as my rabbi, no matter how many other rabbis I have the privilege to know. zikhrono livrakha , may his memory be a blessing.

Maria Cadwallader