Eliahu was born in Warsaw to his parents Beracha and Mordechai Menashe in Shevat (February) 1920. The family was Hasidic and well-off, with five children. The children were well-educated in Jewish and general studies. Eliahu studied in a Jewish school and in yeshiva. He joined Zionist youth movements, leading Brit Hashmona’im. He also worked for illegal aliyah under the auspices of Beitar, Af al Pi. Eliahu made aliyah himself with ten of his friends as part of the Beitar aliyah on the ship Parita. They arrived at Tel Aviv on 1 September 1939, and Eliahu was arrested. A few weeks later, he was freed; the number of those making aliyah was subtracted from the allotment of certificates for the Jewish Agency. Eliahu and his friend had brought a small Torah scroll, which they gave to the synagogue at Metzudat Ze’ev (now Beit Jabotinsky). Afterwards, the scroll was given to the Histadrut. They lived in Bnei Brak and worked in the orchards. Later, Eliahu worked in weaving. He continued his activities as a Brit Hashmona’im commander, then IZL, and finally Lehi, after the split.

In the Brit Hashmona’im cell, in the Bilu School in Tel Aviv, he met Zipporah Granewitz, whose entire family was in Lehi. They married in 1942 and at first lived with the parents, in South Tel Aviv. Later they moved with their infant son to Bnei Brak. In their small apartment, Lehi members would meet; the Latrun escapees found refuge there. In 1945, they moved to Pardes Katz, as Zipporah was pregnant with their second child. Their house once again became an armory, a refuge for the wounded, and a meeting place for Lehi members.

Eliahu managed to get a job in textiles at Sacks Silk, due to a manager who was close to Lehi, and he worked there until the factory was closed. He headed the employees’ union and was successful in that role. After the State was establsiehd, he worked for the Histadrut and was active in the Likud Party. He was a city council member in Ramat Gan, where they lived. He was also a member of the local religious council, even serving as deputy director. He founded the Olei HaGardom Synagogue in Ramat Gan.

Eliahu passed away on February 1986. He worked on behalf of the public tirelessly throughout this life.

He left his wife Zipporah, two sons and a daughter.