Rabbi Alex G. Weisz, Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Alex G. Weisz is the Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth Israel. Upon his arrival in July 2023, Rabbi Weisz became Los Angeles’ youngest senior rabbi in over 60 years. Rabbi Weisz represents generational change in the rabbinate by being the first Gen Z rabbi to lead a synagogue in the United States. Rabbi Weisz is a veteran Jewish educator and professional, having spent much of the last decade running innovative and award-winning synagogue schools and youth departments in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Rabbi Weisz’s mission is to craft warm and inviting Jewish communities that empower people of all ages to increase their involvement in Jewish life and learning. A fiery student of Torah, Rabbi Weisz loves nothing more than to empower Jews of all stripes to access Torah study, the glorious marriage of intellectual and spiritual development.
Contact: Rabbi.Weisz@tbila.org
Rhiannon Lewis, Cantorial Soloist
Rhiannon Lewis (they/them) is a singer-songwriter, actor, and cantorial soloist. Born and raised in Highland Park, Rhiannon has a long history with TBI, from starring in the annual Jonah and the Whale plays, being called to the Torah as a bat-mitzvah in our sanctuary, holding a role as a youth representative on the board in 2016, and teaching at the religious school. Since August 2023, Rhiannon has been leading Friday nights and High Holy Day services with Rabbi Weisz. Rhiannon holds a BFA in Performance and Composition from the California Institute of the Arts, and upon graduating, Rhiannon worked as the Production and Stage Management Intern at The Braid, serving the Jewish theatrical community at large. They have won awards for their compositional work, and as a performer, Rhiannon has graced many stages (and farmer’s markets) across LA. Rhiannon is also a conductor and music director, primarily working with community and youth theaters. Currently, Rhiannon serves on the board of directors of the Sierra Music and Arts Institute (SMAI), and the Contemporary Choral Collective of Los Angeles (C3LA).
Rabbi Ye'ela Rosenfeld, Director of Education & Community Engagement
Rabbi Ye’ela Rosenfeld is a native Israeli who has lived in Los Angeles since 2006. In addition to serving as TBI’s Director of Education and Community Engagement, she serves as Rabbi and Cultural Director at Der Nister - Downtown Los Angeles Jewish Center and officiates services and life cycle events for unaffiliated Jewish families all across Greater Los Angeles. Other than serving as a Rabbi, Rosenfeld is also a film and theater writer and director who is a Graduate of the MFA film directing program of the American Film Institute conservatory in Hollywood. She has directed films and theater in Israel, the Czech Republic and the U.S. Her films screened in festivals worldwide and won numerous awards. For the theater, she has directed the works of Vaclav Havel, Friedrich Durenmatt, Jean Paul Sartre and Howard Zinn. Rabbi Rosenfeld lives in Eagle Rock with her husband David and her children Ori and Libi. She is a passionate teacher and writer, and an unapologetic bookworm.
Contact: Rabbi.Rosenfeld@tbila.org
Cantor Ken Rothstein, Cantor Emeritus
Cantor Rothstein has been an indispensable part of our community since 1988. There's a special, serene feeling here, especially on Shabbat, owing to Cantor Ken- as our members know him. He enjoys leading services on our historic building whether on Shabbat morning or for special holiday services throughout the year.
In January 2025, TBI honored Cantor Ken's historic 36 years of service by bestowing the lifetime honorific of Cantor Emeritus, making him the first clergyperson in TBI's century-long history to be given emeritus status.
Contact: KennethRothstein@gmail.com
Simcha Howard, Rabbinical Intern
Simcha Howard (they/them) is a second year rabbinical student at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. They are a local Angeleno with a love for Ancient Near-East and L.A. history, creative writing, Shabbat liturgy, and connecting to God through communal song. Simcha graduated from New York University in 2021, where they were a prominent leader of healthcare advocacy and disability rights on campus, and were elected Vice Chair of Student Government, representing over 61,000 students. They began working at Netflix after college, until they were called to the Rabbinate and a life of service, primarily through healthcare chaplaincy and congregational work. They have two rescue chihuahuas, Marty and Tina, and would love to see pictures of your dogs!
Contact: Rabbinical.Intern@tbila.org