Episode #64: Feeney Talks with Rabbi Steven Chatinover

Show Notes

Rabbi Steven Chatinover has been teaching for 35 years and playing basketball in JCC Men's Over 30 Basketball League for 28 years.  

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It was great to sit down and talk with my favorite JCC teammates of all time: 

We talked about:

Podcast Sponsors (minute 1)

3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being a Rabbi (minute 3.00)

Rabbi’s Favorite Teacher (minute 4.00)

Becoming a Rabbi (minute 6:30)

Speaking Hebrew (minute 8.50)

Going to Israel (minute 11)

Attending school in New York (minute 15)

Teaching: Middle School or High School? (minute 17)

A Betta Fish named, Mr. Feeney (minute 20.30)

Penpal writing with Rabbi (minute 22)

JCC Men’s Over 30 Basketball League (minute 25)

Honoree for The St. Patrick’s Day Parade  (minute 30)

Why West Hartford? (minute 32.30)

The Bird Game (minute 36)

Classes: First, Last, Best, Worst (minute 39)

Teaching about Death and Mourning (minute 42)

Speak Ups (minute 47)

Wearing a Kippah (minute 52.30)

Rabbi’s Favorite Restaurant and 4 dinner guests (minute 56)

Trivia Game (minute 1.02)

Crazy Questions sponsored by Donut Crazy (minute 1.05)

Questions (minute 1.13)

Shout outs:

Directline Media - www.directlinemediaproductions.com

Solomon Schechter Day School - www.ssds-hartford.org

Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford - www.mandelljcc.org

Birthright Israel Foundation - birthrightisrael.foundation/donate_sem

Speak Up “The Stubb” -  www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fm-Gcbz6g

G-Monkey - www.gmonkeyfastfood.com

Honoree Event - www.friendsoffeeney.com/st-patricks-day-parade-honoree-celebration

Podcast Sponsors: 

Donut Crazy - www.donutcrazy.com

The Fix IV - www.thefixivtherapy.com

West Hartford Lock - www.westhartfordlock.com

Keating Agency Insurance - www.keatingagency.com

GastoPark - www.thegastropark.com

Goff Law Group - www.gofflawgroup.net

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Feeney

After teaching for nearly a decade at his alma mater in Waterbury, in 2014, Eric Feeney began teaching at Wolcott Elementary in West Hartford. Shortly following, Sam Sohn, the father of one of his students, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He left behind four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nancy Wallace-Sohn. Eric saw first-hand the toll this took on the family as they navigated their way through this unthinkable tragedy. The following year, Rashad Collier Sr., another father of a student in Eric’s class, passed away in Hartford as a result of gun violence. Rashad left behind two fantastic children and a loving wife, Denise Villegas. The impact of these tragedies weighed on Eric and motivated him to build an organization that could provide assistance for similar situations. With that, Friends of Feeney was born. In 2019, Friends of Feeney Inc. became an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, allowing more funds to be raised and expanding the range of services provided to children and families in need. Today, over a decade since Eric’s idea to build a community organization dedicated to supporting our friends in need, Friends of Feeney has burgeoned into a reputable and recognized organization capable of providing financial and resource support to numerous families and individuals across greater Hartford and beyond. Through this work, an incredible community of children and families has been recognized, who care for and appreciate each other’s kindness.

Producer

David Chmielewski

David started his video career in the early 1990s working on video crews as an independent contractor for such companies as Martha Stewart Living, IBM and Xerox. After graduating Southern Connecticut State University with the degree in Corporate Communications, David continued his video production career and accepted a position at WFSB in Hartford, CT. Within a few years the news and production studios became his charge and David designed, installed and maintained the televisions sets for the various programs at the station. At the end of 2013 David founded DirectLine Media, a video production company that specializes in creating memorable and compelling video content for businesses.

What is Feeney Talks With Friends?

Eric Feeney talks with #friends! Eric is the founder of the nonprofit organization Friends of Feeney. Their mission is to help children and families who need assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. www.friendsoffeeney.com