Eytan Feiner
Rabbi Eytan Feiner | |
|---|---|
| Personal life | |
| Born | |
| Spouse | Aviva Feiner |
| Children | Avraham Yeshaya Feiner |
| Education | Johns Hopkins University |
| Occupation | Rabbi, educator, lecturer |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
| Jewish leader | |
| Position | Rabbi |
| Synagogue | Congregation Kneseth Israel ("White Shul") |
| Residence | Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City |
| Semikhah | Ner Israel Rabbinical College |
Rabbi Eytan Feiner is an American Orthodox rabbi, educator, lecturer, and communal leader who serves as the full-time rabbi of Congregation Kneseth Israel, popularly known as the White Shul, in Far Rockaway, New York.[1][2] He is a widely sought after speaker in Orthodox Jewish communities, a former maggid shiur at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, and the summer rabbi of Chai Lifeline's Camp Simcha.[3][4]
Early life and education
Feiner was born and raised in the Five Towns area of Long Island, New York.[5] He studied at Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland, where he received rabbinic ordination. During the same period, he pursued a master's degree at Johns Hopkins University.[6] His principal rabbinic teacher was Rabbi Tzvi Berkowitz, under whom he studied at Ner Israel for five years.[7]
Career
Before assuming the rabbinate at the White Shul, Feiner lived in Israel, where he served as a maggid shiur at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem.[1][3] He also taught regularly at Yeshivat HaKotel, Michlala, the Gra Shul in Sha'arei Hesed, and other yeshivot and seminaries throughout Israel.[7][4] In addition, he lectured for Gateways programs.[3]
Feiner became associated with Congregation Kneseth Israel after returning from Israel with his wife, Aviva, to seek medical treatment for their son, Avraham Yeshayahu.[5] He was first invited to serve as scholar-in-residence for Rosh Hashanah, after which the congregation offered him the position of interim rabbi.[5] In January 2010, after an initial one-year contract, the congregation announced that Feiner had signed on for an additional two years as rabbi of the White Shul.[5]
Feiner is a frequent lecturer in Orthodox Jewish communities and has served as a scholar-in-residence in numerous communities.[2] He gives monthly shiurim at Lander's Yeshiva and has also taught at Machon Basya Rochel Seminary.[3][4] He has been described by BensTorah as "one of the most sought after Orthodox Jewish speakers in the United States" and as possessing a strong recall of Jewish sources.[6]
Feiner is also featured as a speaker on TorahAnytime and has authored or presented Torah material through Aish.com and other Orthodox Jewish educational platforms.[4][3]
Feiner serves as the summer rabbi of Chai Lifeline's Camp Simcha, a camp for children with serious illnesses.[1][3] He has also been associated with Bonei Olam, an organization supporting couples facing infertility.[1]
Personal life
Feiner is married to Aviva Feiner.[5] The couple experienced twelve and a half years of unexplained infertility before the birth of their son, Avraham Yeshaya, also known as Shaya, who was named after the Chazon Ish.[1][7] Feiner has spoken publicly about his son's significant physical and cognitive disabilities, including his inability to speak or walk, and about the impact of those experiences on his communal work.[1][7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Saphirstein, Shabsie (March 12, 2025). "The Power of Compassion: Rabbi Eytan Feiner". Queens Jewish Link. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- 1 2 "Rabbi Eytan Feiner". Queens Jewish Center. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rabbi Eytan Feiner". Aish.com. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Rabbi Eytan Feiner". TorahAnytime. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ross, Tova (January 28, 2010). "Rabbi Eytan Feiner to stay at White Shul". The Jewish Star. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- 1 2 "The Feiner Points in the Torah". BensTorah.com. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Q and A with Rabbi Eytan Feiner". The Jewish Vues. Retrieved May 25, 2026.