Who the Folk?! David Steinman

Welcome to “Who the Folk?!” Every week on Monday we feature a new member of the community as our “Person of the Week.” Last week we got to know Ali Kaplan. This week meet David Steinman! Know someone we should feature? Nominate them by sending an email to [email protected]. 

TC Jewfolk: Are you from the Twin Cities? 

David: Yes, I am a homegrown Twin Cities guy. I grew up in Minnetonka, but attended Hopkins High School. I currently reside on the University of Minnesota campus in Dinkytown.

TCJ: We heard you’re about to embark on a crazy trip. You and some friends are biking across the country? Tell us more.

David: ​You are spot on in calling our trip crazy! Four friends and I recently started a small company called Touring For A Cure. What we are going to be doing is biking across the country from here down to Naples, Florida, while also crossing Mid-America from Missouri to Virginia, and heading down the Atlantic Coast. Now unfortunately, I will not be biking, as I don’t have nearly enough of the athleticism required to complete such a feat, but I will be going along as a driver and support team. We are going 3,380 miles over 36 days, so they will be biking an average of over 90 miles a day! You can check us out at touringforacure.com and on Facebook.

TCJ: You just graduated from the U of M. Mazel tov! What do you plan to do now?

David: I did recently graduate from the U with a degree in Psychology, and minors in Management and Spanish. I am currently looking for employment that starts in September, hopefully in a business-related field. I would love to find something that involves finance or marketing, but I’m not too picky as of now.

TCJ: We’re taking an informal survey. Which of the many Jewish summer camps gets you all ferklempt?

David: I have both attended and worked at two Jewish summer camps: Camp Herzl and Camp Teko. I absolutely adore and cherish both, mostly as a camper at Herzl and as a staff member at Teko. I plan on sending my kids to both camps one day.

TCJ: What’s your favorite way to celebrate Shabbat?

David: While I have not been able to do this often since before college, I love sitting down with my family after a long week of school or work, and being able to relax and enjoy each other’s company over a traditional Shabbat dinner. That time together is one of my favorite childhood memories.

TCJ: What’s your favorite Jewish food?

David: The toughest question in all of Jewish culture. I’m going to have to say it is a tie between Challah and Matzo Ball Soup. I’m pretty sure I never have one without the other. The times I have had one without the other have left me confused and feeling like something essential is missing. I tend to rip the Challah and dip these pieces in the soup broth. So in a way, I’ve combined Challah and Matzo Ball Soup into one food.

TCJ: What’s your favorite Jewish holiday?

David: To continue with the theme of my last few answers, I’d have to say Shabbat is my favorite Jewish holiday. Who doesn’t enjoy eating Challah and Matzo Ball Soup while surrounded by family and friends? While that is mostly the Friday aspect of Shabbat, going to synagogue on Saturday mornings has always been enjoyable. Listening to the rabbi’s sermon, prayers sung by the cantor, or a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, hoping that the teen/pre-teen doesn’t go through the same troubles a certain someone had at their own Bar Mitzvah (voice + puberty = lots of voice cracking,) allows me to reflect on the decisions of the past week and guidance for the next. Shabbat is truly a 24-hour long experience, not just Friday night.

TCJ: Who is the coolest Jew?

David: I’m a big music guy, so almost any Jew involved in music is pretty cool in my book. I’m a big fan of Drake’s music over the past few years, and Adam Levine is cool as the front man of Maroon 5 and a judge on The Voice, but the coolest Jew of them all has to be Mr. Bob Dylan. I actually am related to him, albeit not through immediate family. My mother’s cousin’s wife is his cousin. I know that relation is a stretch, but I still say it counts!

TCJ: Have you been to Israel? What is your favorite memory?

David: I went to Israel during the fall before my Bar Mitzvah in 7th grade. I went with my dad for 10 days as my Bar Mitzvah gift. I actually have relatives who live in Ashkelon, Israel, and my second cousin who lives there had his bar mitzvah at the time of my visit. The party was wild and more extravagant than any Bar or Bat Mitzvah party I have ever been to.

TCJ: What’s your favorite thing to do in the cities?

David: I love spending time outdoors. You can always find me having a beer at a rooftop bar or patio. Seeing a Twins game at Target Field, walking around The Stone Arch Bridge or Lake Calhoun, and golfing or playing tennis are just a few of my favorite summer activities, skiing in the winter. I also love going to concerts and hearing live music.

TCJ: What else do you do for fun?

David: I really like sports, so I follow all the local professional sports teams and my Alma Matter Golden Gophers. I love going to Gopher football games and attempting to tailgate. Speaking of tailgating, I enjoy cooking as well.

TCJ: Give us one more reason you’re folking awesome!

David: I absolutely love photography! I have been a serious photographer since I got a nice Canon DSLR at the start of college. I love landscape and action photos. I studied abroad the spring of my junior year in Toledo, Spain and traveled all over Spain and Italy, as well as Portugal, Switzerland, and Prague, Czech Republic. I probably took over 5,000 photos while abroad, with maybe 300 being actually pretty good.