in 1924, rosenfeld immigrated to the united states with his parents, settling in brownsville, brooklyn, new york. he was a student at yeshiva rabbi chaim berlin for elementary school and yeshiva torah vodaas for high school. he next learned at yeshivas bais yosef-novardok, where he became a study partner of the son of the rosh yeshiva, rabbi avraham yoffen. after completing the entire talmud for the second time at the age of 23, rosenfeld received "semicha" (rabbinical ordination) from yoffen. four years later, he received "semicha" from rabbi avraham sternhartz, leader of the breslov hasidim in jerusalem, who tested him on his knowledge of talmud, midrash, shulchan aruch, zohar, and kabbalah. he also completed a course in accounting.