"I inherited some of the passion and I am outspoken, but regretfully, not the same degree of tact"

Took over: Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills in Flushing, New York

Position: Rabbi

Succeeded: Father, Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld

Year: 2011

Before I took over

I was working full time for the OU and visiting a food plant in Buffalo, New York, on behalf of OU kashrus when I got a call from my father saying, “Mazel tov, they just voted you in as assistant rabbi.” Before that, I was the rav of a shul in Staten Island, New York, and before that in Twin Rivers, New Jersey. I was my father’s assistant rabbi from 1991 to 2011, and was elected full-time rabbi when he retired.

The biggest challenge I faced right away

How to be my own person while keeping my father’s kavod in mind at all times. It was my father’s preference that I succeed him, yet it was still difficult at times that the shul was no longer his. I remember calling Rabbi Ilan Feldman, who was in the same position, for suggestions, and he told me I cannot just be an extension of my father — I had to have my own hashkafos and make my own decisions while always maintaining respect.

My first big decision

I realized that for the most part, it would not be respectful nor wise of me to change my father’s customs, so I kept intact what he instituted aside for a few minor procedures: the nusach for the tefillah for Medinas Yisrael, davening on summer Fridays at 7 p.m., which is sometimes a conflict between plag and shkiyah, certain minhagim regarding the way hoshanos are done. Actually, my father told me to be my own person and make the changes I wanted. When he was the rav, the shul said Tehillim every day for Eretz Yisrael. I felt this had become too routine, so I decided we would say Tehillim when Eretz Yisrael was in crisis. “What are you doing?” my father asked — he was very surprised. “You told me to be independent,” I said, and I explained my reasoning. “Yes, but not that!”