By Stephen Stirling
Throughout his career, Rabbi Michael Weisser has intellectually prospered by studying religious faiths while traveling the globe. Now he may be able to do it while walking around the block from his new synagogue.
“I think its all God,” Weisser said. “I just truly believe we're all in this together.”
Weisser is the new rabbi at the Free Synagogue of Flushing, one of the largest Jewish congregations in the bustling downtown district. In the past two decades, Weisser has gone from Nebraska to New Zealand, teaching his faith while picking up tidbits of others along the way.
To Weisser, it's not only good to learn, it's essential.
“I understand my own faith by understanding others. The core essential teachings are all the same,” Weisser said. “The difference is the ritual, how we ritualize these ideals. What happens when people start worrying about the differences of practice is you start to worship the ritual instead of the ideas of God that are behind those rituals and that's a form of idolatry, I think.”
“If we truly believe our own religious faith, then we have to respect and honor the religious faith of others because our faith teaches that we should do that. We can't just gloss that over.”
Though he is not even a month into his new position, Weisser said he is eager to get comfortable and embrace his congregation and the diverse community that surrounds it.
“I'm on a learning curve at the moment because I don't have a history with this community,” Weisser said. “I've even told people the first four or five times we meet tell me your name, by then I'll have it. Little by little, I'll get to know them.”
Though the urban sprawl of New York City is a stark change from rural central Nebraska, Weisser said his new home in Whitestone provides him the best of both worlds.
“It's like being in a small town inside a big city,” he said. “It's an odd kind of thing. I just really feel at home.”
An avid student of meditation, Weisser said once he settles into his new role, he hopes to share the benefits of the traditionally Buddhist practice with his congregation. He said he believes this could be of particular benefit to city residents.
“New York is kind of a stressful place. Most of the stress comes from not being able to see things as they are; wanting things to be the way you want them to be,” he said. “But you can't make them be how you want them to be. They are what they are.”
The Free Synagogue of Flushing holds services Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at 41-60 Kissena Blvd.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, ext. 138.
