Growing up as a high schooler in Toronto, Rabbi Yitzi Steiner had been keeping an eye on the work Chabad was doing, and that interest kept growing through rabbinic school.
“Just watching the impact and the way that it was the organization and the people were transforming the world Jewry, was something that I wanted to be a part of this,” he said. “This is a successful organization. [These are] successful people that are really passionate and care about the continuity and the preservation of the Jewish people. I want to be a part of it.”
Rabbi Steiner and his wife Chavi took that passion and started Chabad at the University of Minnesota, which celebrates its 15th anniversary of being on campus this year. The duo, even when they were dating, knew that they wanted to work in the Chabad world – but weren’t sure what that was going to look like.
“There are many different Chabad houses: There are those that are servicing the community. There are those that are doing social programming,” Rabbi Steiner said. “There’s obviously a big, wide range.”
They had heard that the U of M didn’t have a Chabad, which surprised Steiner since the rest of the Big Ten at that time – 2010 – had one.
“I reached out to Rabbi Mordechai Grossbaum and asked if they were interested in establishing one,” Steiner said. “He said: ‘Absolutely, we are.’”
The Steiners came out to visit the community, and the students they all met with thought there were “maybe 50 Jews on campus.”
Running a campus Chabad is, in a way, part of the family business. Steiner’s brother had worked at Chabad at George Washington University, and Chavi Steiner’s brother worked at Chabad at the University of Georgia, so they were familiar with the rhythms of a Chabad on campus. But with Rabbi Steiner being from Toronto and Chavi from Leeds, England, they weren’t familiar with a campus the size of the University of Minnesota.
“It’s daunting on many different levels,” Rabbi Steiner said. “You’re moving to a city and state where you don’t know anyone. Not to mention that you’re moving to a college campus. We’ve got five kids and we’re bringing them up next door to a fraternity.
“The job that I’ve chosen wasn’t necessarily for an easy or comfortable life.”
Being tossed into a sink-or-swim environment, Steiner said, is part of Chabad’s success.
“Moving onto a college campus, to a world that I was not familiar with…I had to learn it really quickly,” he said. “Not really understanding the ins and outs of Greek life or the rivalries between fraternities and sororities. Even the whole college football thing was new. I’m sure I made many mistakes at the beginning, and I still do make mistakes, you figure it out. And if you’re determined and committed to the goal and for it to succeed, then just fall forward.”
Starting a new Chabad on campus comes with a fairly steep learning curve.
“All of my education has mainly been in the rabbinate,” he said. “I didn’t even take training on running a nonprofit.”
Chabad on Campus gave the Steiners a three-year grant totalling $120,000, which covered salary, rent or mortgage, and programming expenses. The programming, especially when it’s not in the wheelhouse, can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are plenty of other Chabads on campus to lean on.
“One of the things that works, that has always worked around the country, is Shabbat dinners. It’s the hallmark program,” he said. “That was definitely the first program, and from there, we just kind of built off that and find out what students are interested in.”
In the two years since the Oct. 7 attack and amid the uncomfortable moments on college campuses around the country – especially at the University of Minnesota – students looking for a Jewish connection have increased. For example: The Shabbat dinner has grown from four students at the first one 15 years ago, to anywhere from 80-100 on a given week.
The campus setting is also different than what the Chabad centers across Minnesota and elsewhere.
“What I need to do to engage college students, and what Rabbi Greene in Rochester needs to do to engage his Jewish community, is very different,” he said. “And I think what makes Chabad generally unique versus any other student group on campus, is the fact that I live on campus. The fact that I am here 24 hours a day with my wife, who is my co-director. It’s the family aspect of it; It’s so attractive where a student walks in and they feel like they’re being welcomed into a place and joining the family.”
And the Steiners become part of the students families. Rabbi Steiner said they have been to 24 weddings of students who had been active at Chabad – and he’s officiated 13 of them. To go with countless brises.
After 15 years in Dinkytown, the Steiners have no interest in leaving.
“As long as I’m going to be a Chabad rabbi, I’m going to be at the University of Minnesota,” he said. “I recognize I’ve made the University of Minnesota and the Jewish community at the University of Minnesota my mission in life. We’re dedicated to the people and to the mission. So no matter what, I’m going to make sure that it’s going to succeed.”
