Sonnenfeld was the right-hand man of
Yehoshua Leib Diskin and assisted the latter in communal activities, such as the founding of schools and the
Diskin Orphanage, and fighting against secularism and Zionism. Sonnenfeld was one of the leaders of the Hungarian
Kollel Shomrei HaChomos in Jerusalem, and was the president of the
Burial Society. Sonnenfeld did not want the Orthodox Jewish community to become subject to Zionist authority and often referred to the Zionists as "evil men and ruffians", claiming that "Hell had entered the Land of Israel with Herzl." Sonnenfeld's top diplomat, Dr.
Jacob Israël de Haan, endeavored to form an alliance with the Arab nationalist leadership and hoped to reach an agreement that would allow unrestricted Jewish settlement in Arab lands in return for the relinquishment of Jewish political aspirations. In June 1924, de Haan was assassinated by the
Haganah after having conveyed his proposals to
King Hussein and his sons,
Faisal and
Abdullah. Eventually Sonnenfeld founded the
Edah HaChareidis along with Rabbi Yitzchok Yerucham Diskin in 1918, to separate from the
Zionist-controlled . Sonnenfeld had previously been the
de facto chief rabbi of Jerusalem since 1909, after the death of Rabbi
Shmuel Salant, but only accepted the official title in 1920, in order to counter the establishment of the
Chief Rabbinate by the
Zionist movement under British auspices. Though Sonnenfeld and
Abraham Isaac Kook were vigorous opponents in many areas, especially Zionism, the two had a relationship of mutual respect. Sonnenfeld died on February 26, 1932, and was interred on the
Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, beside his former teacher Rabbi Avrohom Shag. == Works ==