Brother Knows Best: Rabbi Ari and Simcha D. Schonfeld

Rabbi Ari Schonfeld is an eighth grade rebbi at Yeshiva Beis Hillel of Passaic, New Jersey, the founder of Night Seder America, the director of Camp Eeshay and Camp Aish, and the incoming menahel at Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan.

My brother’s favorite song:

the classic “Kah Echsof,” the one that’s sung at the tish of Reb Tzvi Meir in Eretz Yisrael. He walked down the aisle to it.

Favorite food:

steak, and it has to be so rare you’re not sure if the animal is alive or not.

Biggest fear:

swallowing a peanut (he’s highly allergic).

How my brother unwinds:

if you ever met Simcha, you’d know he doesn’t really ever unwind, but he does love to read.

My brother’s greatest strength:

thoroughness. If there’s a medical or legal issue in the family, he’s always the first and last call — and he won’t rest until every option is exhausted. Also, public speaking — Simcha is the keynote speaker of the family at every simchah. He is laugh-out-loud funny — often at my expense — and he has this incredible knack for uncovering old letters and stories that are poignant or hysterical.