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 week we got to know Sam Gordon. This week meet Max Orenstein! Know someone we should feature? Nominate them by sending an email to [email protected].
TC Jewfolk: Are you from the Twin Cities?
Max: Yes, I was born and raised in Minneapolis. I went to college at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and worked as a TV news reporter in Knoxville, TN shortly after graduating.
TCJ: You run your own video production company, Observe Video. Have you always been a filmmaker?
Max: Yes. I was involved in my High Schools TV production class and during college I worked at our on campus PBS affiliate as a sports reporter. These experiences helped me develop a love for telling people’s stories, which I love and have developed into a profession.
TCJ: Are you involved in any other TC organizations?
Max: Minneapolis Jewish Federation, SIU Alumni Club of MN, and the Minnesota Professional Videographers association.
TCJ: What’s your favorite way to celebrate Shabbat?
Max: Tough call. There’s nothing like chatting with Rabbi Avi Olitzky at Beth El…But dinner at Oak Ridge with family probably trumps all.
TCJ: What’s your favorite Jewish holiday?
Max: Rosh Hashanah…I love going to services and spending time with family/friends afterwards.
TCJ: What’s your favorite Jewish food?
Max: Matzo Ball Soup from Oak Ridge. Never gets old.
TCJ: Have you been to Israel? What is your favorite memory?
Max: I went on Birthright in 2010 and it is one of the best experiences of my life. Too tough to pick a favorite but going to the market in Jerusalem before Shabbat and seeing the hustle and bustle was really neat. Hiking Masada at dawn was pretty awesome.
TCJ: What’s your favorite fall/winter activity?
Max: Watching Golden Gopher Football. Ski-U-Mah!
TCJ: What’s your favorite thing to do in the Cities?
Max: Dine at our awesome restaurants. I can do that no matter what the weather!
TCJ: Give us one more reason why you’re folking awesome!
Max: I once got Hulk ‘Hollywood’ Hogan to take a picture with me at an airport. I was running wild for a week. Now that’s FOLKING AWESOME. BROTHER!
Click here to nominate your favorite TC Jew to be featured on our weekly Who the Folk?! series!