Draft:Leon Feingold

Feingold was born in Queens, New York City, grew up middle class in Oceanside, New York, and is Jewish.[https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/3439/ "Leon Feingold,"] Baseball Cube.[https://www.ou.org/news/an_ncsy_alumnus_from_li_plays_in_the_news_israel_baseball_league/ "Long Island NCSY Alumnus In Israel Baseball League,"] 5 Towns Jewish Times, p. 64, May 11, 2007. He played baseball in the NCSY chapter at the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Center on Long Island. He also played soccer as a goaltender for the Oceanside United Soccer boys travel team, "the Algonquins."Judi Eichin (November 14, 1984). [https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ocb19841114-01.1.20&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- "Oceanside United Soccer Boys Travel Teams,"] Oceanside Beacon.[https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ocb19811029-01.1.20&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- "Soccer Club-Intramurals,"] The Oceanside Beacon, October 29, 1981, p. 20.

Feingold attended and graduated from Oceanside High School in New York ('90), the State University of New York at Albany ('94), and Hofstra Law School ('98).[https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16694coll83/id/27979/ Oceanside High School Yearbook 1990,] p. 65.[https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=43970&seasonid=160 "Leon Feingold,"] Pointstreak. As of 2018, he headed the Greater New York City chapter of MENSA. He has since lived in Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan in New York City.

From 1990–94, Feingold pitched for the Albany Great Danes baseball team of the State University of New York at Albany.Konrad Putzier (October 6, 2017). [https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2017/10/06/a-genius-real-estate-broker-burning-man-and-a-scandal-in-nycs-sex-positive-community/ "A genius real estate broker, Burning Man and a scandal in NYC’s sex-positive community,"] The Real Deal.

A 6' 6" (196 cm) right-handed pitching switch-hitting pitcher, he then pitched in the Cleveland Indians system, for the Butte Copper Kings in the Pioneer League in 1994, and the Burlington Indians in the Appalachian League in 1995.[https://www.milb.com/player/leon-feingold-472140 "Leon Feingold,"] MLB.com. He subsequently pitched in the independent Atlantic League in 1999, and also played for the Pleasantville Red Sox in 2005.[https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/0065/5918/wrwbl2005.pdf "2005 Season – Final Stats"] The WRWBL Intelligencer, Baseball Report.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=feingo001leo "Leon Feingold,"] Baseball Reference. Former Major League player and Indians coach Billy Williams described him as: "The nicest guy I've ever met in baseball."Yoni Peres (August 3, 2007). [http://sandiegojewishworld.com/2007-sdjw/2007-08-sdjw/2007-08-03friday95/2007-08-03friday95.htm "Restless lawyer, editor, stockbroker Feingold now a pitcher for Israel Baseball League's Tigers"] San Diego Jewish World. His career was cut short by a series of shoulder injuries, culminating in a torn labrum and two surgeries.Yaniv Orgad (August 22, 2007). [https://www.haaretz.com/2007-08-22/ty-article/baseball-if-you-build-it-will-they-come/0000017f-e5e4-df5f-a17f-fffede510000 "Baseball If You Build It, Will They Come?,"] Haaretz.

With his shoulder feeling better, in 2005 and 2007 Feingold pitched in the Westchester-Rockland Wooden Bat League, one of the top ten U.S. semi-pro leagues.Ron Kaplan (June 14, 2007). [https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=njjn20070614-02.1.41&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- "Tuning up for the IBL,"] New Jersey Jewish News, p. 40. In 2010, he pitched for the New York Longhorns of the New York City Metro Baseball League.

Feingold, with his shoulder healed and throwing a 93 mile-per-hour fastball, was the first pitcher drafted by the Netanya Tigers in the former Israel Baseball League (IBL).Jill Stern (March 6, 2007). [https://www.amny.com/news/player-who-got-second-chance-pitches-israel-league/ "Player who got second chance pitches Israel league,"] AMNY.{{cite web |url=http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/ |title=Home |publisher=Israel Baseball League}} He said: "Getting a chance to play baseball again on the same level is getting a second chance at something that most people don’t get a first chance at." In 2007 he pitched in 11 of the team's 40 games alongside Team Israel pitcher Shlomo Lipetz, 7 as a starter (2 of which were complete games), pitched in the IBL All-Star team, and was the IBL Player of the Year.[https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/1,7340,L-3428813,00.html "Leon Feingold throws gem as Netanya Tigers edge Modi'in Miracle; New York City native pitches three-hitter, allows just one run; Tel Aviv Lightning beat Bet Shemesh Blue Sox 10–1,"] Ynet, July 23, 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4963670 |title=Baseball / IBL / Beit Shemesh shuts out Modi'in 3–0 to win inaugural championship |newspaper=Haaretz |date=August 20, 2007 |accessdate=April 2, 2013}}{{cite book |last=Ruttman |first=Larry |authorlink=Larry Ruttman |title=American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball |date=2013 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |location=Lincoln, Nebraska and London, England |isbn=978-0-8032-6475-5 |pages=355–65 |chapter=Leon Feingold: Israel Baseball League Player of the Year, Jewish Physical and Mental Giant|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ebdoBFk4zAC&q=Leon+Feingold&pg=PA355}}Yaffi Spodek (July 5, 2007). [https://www.jpost.com/sports/patriotic-atmosphere-as-ibl-celebrates-july-4th "Patriotic atmosphere as IBL celebrates July 4th,"] The Jerusalem Post.

He has also became known as a competitive eater. Known as "Justice," Feingold reached the rank of #12 in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating.{{cite web |url=http://www.majorleagueeating.com/ |title=Home |publisher=Major League Eating}}Jacob Berkman (February 26, 2007). [https://www.jta.org/2007/02/26/united-states/baseball-making-its-pitch-in-israel "Baseball making its pitch in Israel,"] JTA.

In June 1999, he won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Oceanside, defeating 300-pound-plus titleholder Eric Booker.Ray Pina (June 10, 1999). [https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=iv19990610-01.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- "A Gluttonous Victory; Nathan's Search for a Hot Dog Eating Champion,"] Independent Voice, p. 4. In the 12-minuted competition, Feingold ate 15.5 hot dogs, winning by half a hot dog. Asked to comment on his victory, Feingold said: "The only thing is I keep a Kosher house, and I just won a year supply of hot dogs."

In 2005, he came in third in the Nathan's Famous World French Fry Eating Championship, behind winner Edward "Cookie" Jarvis and silver medalist Tim Janus.[https://majorleagueeating.com/articles/223 "Jarvis Takes Nathan's Fries Eating Contest,"] Major League Eating. He won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Regionals three times, and competed in the July 4 World Championships at Coney Island three times. He was the second person in history to successfully complete the Carnegie Deli Challenge (two 3½ pound sandwiches of turkey, corned beef, Swiss cheese, and toppings in one sitting), doing it in just under two hours (Ed "Cookie" Jarvis completed the challenge the same day an hour later, after three hours of eating).Nerz, Ryan (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SP3CK4iGDK4C&printsec=frontcover Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit], Macmillan. Cf. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SP3CK4iGDK4C&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=%22carnegie+deli+challenge%22+feingold p.31] He has appeared on a number of televised eating contests, including the US Open of Competitive Eating{{cite web|url=http://www.majorleagueeating.com/news.php?action=detail&sn=275 |author= |title= Kobayashi Takes Alka-Seltzer US Open of Competitive Eating|publisher=International Federation of Competitive Eating|date=July 31, 2005 |accessdate=April 2, 2013}} and The Glutton Bowl.{{cite web |url=http://homepage2.nifty.com/maronomori/japonaiserie/docs/9_snap.html |title=Glutton Bowl・全データ＆スナップ集 |publisher=Nifty|accessdate=April 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120709192559/http://homepage2.nifty.com/maronomori/japonaiserie/docs/9_snap.html |archivedate=July 9, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}

Feingold advocates responsible polyamory, and has spoken on the subject in the media.Dashel Pierson (May 20, 2014). [https://observer.com/2014/05/roomies-with-benefits-brooklyn-building-caters-to-the-polyamorous/ "Roomies with Benefits: Brooklyn Building Caters to the Polyamorous,"] Observer. He has appeared solo and with others to discuss responsible nonmonogamy as a guest on The View,[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_view/s17/e40 "The View, Season 17, Episode 40, November 1, 2013,"] Rotten Tomatoes. Huffington Post[https://voyagela.com/interview/conversations-with-leon-feingold/ "Conversations with Leon Feingold,"] Voyage LA, February 19, 2024. The Atlantic,{{cite web|title=Couples Speak Honestly About Open Relationships|author=Emily Buder|date=March 30, 2018|website=The Atlantic|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/556988/open-relationship-nonmonogamy/|accessdate=30 March 2018}} Quartz,{{cite web|title=Polyamorous sex is the most quietly revolutionary political weapon in the United States|author=Olivia Goldhill|work=Quartz|date=December 20, 2018 |url=https://qz.com/1501725/polyamorous-sex-is-the-most-quietly-revolutionary-political-weapon-in-the-united-states/|accessdate=24 December 2018}} and others, plus featured spots in the HBO documentary Americans in Bed,{{cite web|title=Americans In Bed|url=https://www.hbo.com/documentaries.americans-in-bed|publisher=HBO/BBC Films|accessdate=30 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723064209/https://www.hbo.com/documentaries.americans-in-bed|archive-date=July 23, 2018|url-status=dead}} and an episode of Season 2 of Vice Media's television documentary series Slutever.{{cite web|title=Slutever|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XA3CpyV2YRWV_7dMOmIiV4HjKqZr7AjP/view?usp=sharing|accessdate=20 February 2019}}

In May 2014, Feingold helped start New York's first openly polyamorous residence in a Bushwick, Brooklyn, three-story, 15-room brownstone, as the building's spokesperson, broker, and attorney.Lauren Evans (May 15, 2014). [https://gothamist.com/news/of-course-bushwick-has-its-own-polyamorous-building "Of Course Bushwick Has Its Own Polyamorous Building,"] Gothamist.[https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/07/08/inside-bushwick-manor-that-is-a-haven-for-polyamorous-tenants/ "Inside Bushwick manor that is a haven for polyamorous tenants,"] The Daily News, January 9, 2019.{{cite web|title=Polyamorous Home in Bushwick Looks For Tenants Wanting Judgment-Free Life|url=http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140515/bushwick/polyamorous-home-bushwick-looks-for-tenants-wanting-judgment-free-life|author=Kaitlyn Mitchell | date=May 15, 2014|work=DNAinfo|accessdate=5 December 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204022855/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140515/bushwick/polyamorous-home-bushwick-looks-for-tenants-wanting-judgment-free-life|archivedate=December 4, 2014|df=mdy-all}}[https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/polyamorous-community-offers-judgment-free-living-space-in-bushwick/ "Polyamorous Community Offers 'Judgment-Free' Living Space In Bushwick,"] CBS News, May 16, 2014. It was for people open to responsible polyamorous relationships or who are willing to live in a judgment-free environment that accepts others' lifestyles that may differ from their own. Feingold said that the polyamorous community sometimes found it to be difficult to finding space where the lifestyles of all involved would be accepted. He noted that it would not be a “swingers” pad, and that “It’s not a sex-fest. It’s not a place to come and get your freak on. It’s a place to come home to." He also noted that the house was not limited to people who were polyamorous, saying you simply have to be respectful of other peoples' life choices.Kira Brekke (June 16, 2014). [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hacienda-villa-polyamorous-housing-complex-in-new-york_n_5499723 "Hacienda Villa, New Brooklyn Apartment Complex, Welcomes Polyamorous Residents,"] Huffington Post.Jennifer Shipon (June 10, 2014). [https://bushwickdaily.com/people/2351-up-and-personal-with-lilly-the-first-tenant-of-polyamorous-house-in-bushwick/ "Up Close and Personal with Lilly, the First Tenant of Polyamorous House in Bushwick,"] Bushwick Daily.Lucia Peters (May 19, 2014). [https://www.bustle.com/articles/24999-nycs-first-polyamorous-only-apartment-is-here-and-its-nicer-than-your-place "NYC's Polyamorous-Only Apartments,"] Bustle. He added that: "We’re not advertising. We’re not looking for other people. This is just friends, and friends of friends." Two years later he noted that while the decision generated a good deal of publicity, often from journalists who expected that the building would essentially be a “sex house,” many of the tenants had one or more outside partners, and "in-house hookups are pretty rare."Alanna Schubach (August 31, 2016). [https://www.brickunderground.com/blog/polyamory_in_the_city "Polyamory in the city: What it's like to live in a home dedicated to non-monogamy,"] Brick Underground.

He gave a TED Talk on polyamory at TEDxBushwick on March 21, 2015.{{cite web|title=Polyamory ∣ Leon Feingold ∣ TEDxBushwick| date=June 9, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtdsZ8B7JQY|publisher=TEDx|accessdate=18 February 2016}}

Feingold became engaged in October 2016 to Yuanyuan Wang. Days later they learned that Wang had metastatic endometrial cancer, with 70 tumors throughout her body.Deborah Fenker (October 8, 2020). [https://www.ourtownny.com/news/the-house-of-good-deeds-AC1343200 " The House of Good Deeds; A nonprofit focused on altruism collects and distributes clothes, housewares and food,"] Our Town. After she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, in January 2017 they co-founded the House of Good Deeds (formerly the Church of Good Deeds). They married in November 2016; Wang died in March 2017 at 39 years of age.{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofgooddeeds.org/about/ |title=About |publisher=Church of Good Deeds |accessdate=September 11, 2018 }}

The House of Good Deeds is a humanist, altruistic organization focused on helping others.{{cite web |url=http://www.chelseanewsny.com/news/the-house-of-good-deeds-AC1343200 |title=The House of Good Deeds |work=Chelsea News |accessdate=January 4, 2021 }} The goals of the organization are to help those in need, and to rescue usable items from being discarded into a landfill. Unlike other organizations, it puts free donations directly into the hands of people who need them, rather than giving them to charities that primarily sell the merchandise and use the proceeds to fund their work. It developed into a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit with a board of directors, hundreds of volunteers, three company vehicles, and storage units in Queens and Long Island, New York. Feingold said, "This is one way of keeping my wife's memory alive, because this was her idea and it's something we both really enjoyed, volunteering together."

Feingold is the Executive Director of the organization.Hillary Chura (May 26, 2021). [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/realestate/renovation-donating-fixtures.html "Finding Purpose for Our Renovation Materials,"] The New York Times.Patricia Marx (February 21, 2022). [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/02/28/a-guide-to-getting-rid-of-almost-everything-decluttering "A Guide to Getting Rid of Almost Everything; Once you’ve thanked and said goodbye to the items that do not spark joy, what can you do with them?"], The New Yorker. He runs and works for the organization, a network of hundreds of volunteers, and does not draw a salary. He picks up donated food in the organization's bus and brings it to a local family shelter each week, collects boxes of clothing, toys, books, housewares, refrigerators, air conditioning units, electronics, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other donations for the organization’s monthly free giveaways, and he and other organization members take part in neighborhood clean-ups and educational workshops and sponsor blood drives.Stacey Delikat (August 4, 2021). [https://www.fox5ny.com/news/doing-good-deeds-in-late-wifes-memory "Doing good deeds in his late wife's memory | House of Good Deeds,"] Fox5NY. The organization announces its giveaways on social media pages, such as its Instagram page. The organization picks up and delivers items in the five boroughs of New York City. In its first four years it took in and disbursed – for free – over 150,000 pounds of items.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said that the organization makes a huge contribution.Hillary Chura (August 25, 2021). [https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/2021/0825/This-charity-eliminates-the-middleman-cutting-waste-and-expenses "People Making a Difference; This charity eliminates the middleman – cutting waste and expenses,"] The Christian Science Monitor. Jackie Tian, the manager of the Levain Bakery on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, donates unsold pastries and said: "Leon has no hidden agenda. He helps everybody.... It’s like ‘what does he get out of it?’ Nothing, except that he wants to help people.... He says, ‘Just pay it forward.'"

Feingold works as an attorney and a real estate broker.James Fanelli (April 7, 2018). [https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/09/15/manhattan-polyamorist-scammed-out-of-15g-from-burning-man-pal/ "Manhattan polyamorist scammed out of $15G from ‘Burning Man’ pal,"] The New York Daily News.

• 2007 Israel Baseball League Player of the Year.
• Spectrum News NY1 named Feingold "New Yorker of the Week" on March 6, 2023, for his founding of his organization that connects people to volunteer opportunities.Pat Kiernan and Chelsea Katz (March 6, 2023). [https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/nyer-of-the-week/2023/03/06/new-yorker-of-the-week--leon-feingold "New Yorker of the Week: Leon Feingold,"] Spectrum News NY1.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite magazine|last=Tsoulis-Reay|first=Alexa|title=What It's Like to Be a Polyamorous Genius|date=2015|magazine=New York Magazine|url=http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/02/what-its-like-to-be-a-polyamorous-genius.html}}
• Leon Feingold (June 9, 2015). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtdsZ8B7JQY&ab_channel=TEDxTalks "Polyamory,"] TEDxBushwick

{{draft categories|

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feingold, Leon}}

:Category:1973 births

:Category:Living people

:Category:20th-century American Jews

:Category:21st-century American Jews

:Category:21st-century American philanthropists

:Category:Albany Great Danes athletes

:Category:American competitive eaters

:Category:Baseball players from New York (state)

:Category:Baseball players from Manhattan

:Category:Baseball players from Nassau County, New York

:Category:Baseball players from Queens, New York

:Category:Burlington Indians players (1986–2006)

:Category:Butte Copper Kings players

:Category:Israel Baseball League players

:Category:Jewish American baseball players

:Category:Maurice A. Deane School of Law alumni

:Category:Mensans

:Category:People associated with effective altruism

:Category:People from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan

:Category:People from Oceanside, New York

:Category:Polyamorous people

:Category:Sportspeople from Hempstead, New York

:Category:TED (conference)

}}

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