Max Steinberg was born November 27, 1989 to Evie and Stuart in Los Angeles. He was a typical Californian who loved skateboarding, snowboarding, red Ford Mustang GTs and American football. He was always smiling and joking around - 'the nicest person in the world.' A 10-day Birthright Israel trip changed his life, according to his friends. 'He fell in love after Birthright.'
Max made aliyah in 2012 and became a sharpshooter in the Golani Brigade after being drafted in December of that year. On July 20, 2014 Max was one of 13 Golani soldiers killed in Gaza fighting Hamas terrorists. Defending Israel was something he was passionate about. His father Stuart recalled: 'He felt that if this was his calling, being on the sidelines, or even in the backseat, was just not going to work. Max was a free spirit.' According to friends, Max loved being in Israel, he loved the people, he loved his unit. Israel returned this love - an estimated 30,000 people attended his funeral at Har Herzl. Max is survived by his parents, his sister Paige and his bother Jake.
