Lazar Schonfeld

• 1930 United States Federal Census
• Birth: Circa 1881 - Yugoslavia
• Residence: 1930 - Bronx (Districts 1-250), Bronx, New York, USA
• Wife: Sarah Schonfeld
• Children: Magda Schonfeld, Frank Schonfeld, Gabriel Schonfeld, Nellie Schonfeld

  ---

  
  

Lazar Schonfeld was ordained at Pressburg Yeshiva, Pressburg, Austria-Hungarian Empire (now Bratislava, Slovakia). He had studied at the College of Szeged, the University of Budapest and the University of Vienna, where he received his PhD degree.

Lazar married Sara Furth, daughter of Ferenc Furth, chief rabbi of Nagykaroly, Szatmar, Hungary (now Carei, Satu Mare, Romania. Between 1907-1912 Lazar served as chief rabbi of Pakrac and Vinkovci, Yugoslavia. After his father-in-law's death in 1912 Lazar took over as chief rabbi of Nagykaroly, Szatmar, Hungary. He remained in that position until 1925. In that year Lazar visited his brother in New York City, NY and decided he wanted to live there. On April 26, 1926 Lazar's wife Sara and their children Nelly, Magda, Frank and Gabriel immigrated to New York City. At Sara's urging Lazar accepted the position of rabbi of Congregation Beth David Agudath Achim in the Bronx, NY. After World War II Rabbi Schonfeld broadcast sermons regularly in Hungarian for the Voice of America. Rabbi Schonfeld was active in the American Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress.