Temple Knesset Israel

Rabbi Robert Elias

Rabbi Robert Elias was born in Budapest, Hungary and came to America at the age of nine. He studied exclusively at Jewish schools, The West Coast Talmudical Seminary, and Rambam Torah Institute. In 1966, he represented America at the International Bible Contest held annually in Jerusalem on Yom Ha'Atzmaut.

Rabbi Elias attended UCLA, earning a Masters in Fine Arts, and was ordained by the Rabbinical Academy of America. He has served as Rabbi at Knesset Israel of Beverlywood, Verdugo Hills Hebrew Center, and currently at Temple Knesset Israel of Hollywood where he is embarking on his twenty fifth year of serving the needs of our community. Rabbi Elias has been married to Tina for thirty-six years and they have three children: Jennifer, Sara, and Michael.

Cantor Lee Greenberg

Currently Mr. Greenberg serves as a strategic advisor to several companies and their CEO’s and he has served as a board member. The following positions reflect only some of Mr. Greenberg’s rich and diversified business and executive experiences. An attorney and a member of the Bar, Mr. Greenberg testified, by invitation, before the U.S. Congress and before the International Trade Commission in support of the US-Israel Free Trade Agreement. 

  A graduate of the University of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1976, Mr. Greenberg received his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1979.  Among his many awards and accomplishments, Mr. Greenberg was a national finalist in the American Bar Association (ABA) National Appellate Advocacy Competition (1979).  Mr. Greenberg has also received several other advocacy awards.

Utilizing his experience as a public speaker, Mr. Greenberg has spoken to both for profit and not for profit groups and has also been involved in philanthropic endeavors. For many years Mr. Greenberg has also been the Cantor, serving at Temple Knesset Israel synagogue in Hollywood / Los Feliz, California.

Harvey Shield

Harvey Shield grew up in London, England and has resided in Los Angeles since 1975.  He began attending services at Knesset Israel in 1992 and was first elected President in 1995, a position he has held, intermittently, during the past twenty years.  

Harvey has enjoyed a long career in the creative arts as a musician, songwriter, actor and entertainer. He is a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers), SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television & Radio Artists) and BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts).

Harvey also serves as the Temple's  representative on the board of the East Hollywood Business Improvement District.

He lives in Angelino Heights with his wife, Margrit. Their daughter, Sofia, was Bat Mitzvah at Knesset Israel in 2005.