Cantor Robert Kieval (d. 23 January 2022) served as senior cantor at B’nai Israel Congregation in Rockville, N.Y. from 1977 to 2001. Upon his retirement, he was elected hazzan emeritus by the congregation. More recently, he served on the faculty at the Jewish Theological Seminary and led popular virtual classes through the Cantors Assembly. Kieval studied hazzanut at Hebrew Union College and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Active in the affairs of the Cantors Assembly, he ultimately served as its president. He has also served on the board of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and was the first cantor to serve on the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative movement. Kieval “believed in Jewish music as a significant cultural and spiritual force — and his life became a testament to those values,” said Rabbi Jonathan Schnitzer, rabbi emeritus of B’nai Israel.