About JewishPhoenix
Welcome to the digital home of Phoenix’s Jewish community! On this exciting collaborative site, you can easily connect to community organizations, find upcoming events, discover volunteer opportunities, enjoy lifestyle content, and so much more.
JewishPhoenix.com is an initiative of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.
MEET THE MINDS BEHIND JEWISHPHOENIX.COM
RICH SOLOMON
Rich is the General Manager for Jewish News and the Director for Jewish Phoenix. He works on the business side of both programs, focusing on their budgets and growth for the future. He previously served as JN’s editor in 2019 before transitioning into a business-oriented role for the newspaper in early 2020.
Fun facts about Rich-
- His two sons occupy his brain for every moment he isn’t at work.
- He’s lived in eight states and another country.
- Rich used to write comedy articles for a MadTV competitor.
- He once tried to conquer his fear of heights by jumping off a cliff into the ocean, only to tear the ligaments in his shoulder upon impact. The fear is still there.
- As an infant, Rich appeared on a billboard due to nepotism. He claimed for years that he was “a child model” to anyone who would listen, which none did.
- Rich’s dream is to have a positive net impact on his community and the world.
LEAH CRESSWELL
Leah is the Digital Coordinator for Jewish Phoenix. She helps keep the community connected and makes sure everyone knows about all the great stuff going on in the Valley of the Sun. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in communication from the University of Arizona and has spent all her life as an active member of the Greater Phoenix Jewish community.
Fun facts about Leah-
- If you ever can’t find her, she is most likely hiking
- She could probably eat nachos for every meal and not get sick of them
- She secretly loves dogs more than people
- She used to dance competitively
- She lived in Israel for 4 years
- One of her biggest goals is to travel to every continent
SHANNON LEVITT
Shannon is the Staff Writer for Jewish News and Content Coordinator for JewishPhoenix. She will be writing the stories of the Jewish community as well as reporting local news for Jewish News. She also gets to curate the posts of community organizations on JewishPhoenix, in addition to creating some fun content there. Shannon has worked for Jewish News for two years and got to know the Jewish community during the COVID pandemic. Now she’s having fun meeting people in person.
Fun facts about Shannon-
- She loves to read fiction and non-fiction equally
- She worked for a Catholic news organization
- She knows more about the Catholic church than most Jews and many Catholics
- She lived in Rome and remembers un poco Italiano (but pretends to know more)
- She spends many weekends hiking and camping
- She is always looking forward to her next trip to the Grand Canyon
MALA BLOMQUIST
Mala is the Managing Editor for the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. She has spent more than 25 years in niche publishing in Arizona.
Fun Facts about Mala-
- She loves Halloween more than any other holiday
- She volunteers with a special needs dog rescue, Amazing Aussies Lethal White Rescue of Arizona
- She has a menagerie of animals at home including a Blue-Front Amazon parrot, a cockatiel, two Sulcata tortoises and three dogs, two of which are deaf (see answer above)
- She is an Arizona native
- She has been married for decades to her first husband and has three adult children and one grandchild and spending time with them fills her soul with joy.
- When not writing, she likes to craft and make stained glass
JODI LIPSON
Jodi Lipson is the Senior Account Executive for the Jewish News and JewishPhoenix where she works to connect clients within the Jewish community of Greater Phoenix and Northern Arizona. She has been with Jewish News for 5 years and will be celebrating her 6th year as Jewish News celebrates 75 years. Jodi has had a diverse collection of jobs. Before Jewish News, she worked for a Motorcycle magazine – the Goldwing Road Riders Association – and in New York, in the garment district.
Fun Facts about Jodi –
- She met her husband on a Jewish Singles cruise to Scandinavia and Russia. Jodi is a family oriented person and will do anything for them.
- Her favorite animal is a polar bear and she hopes to go to Churchill, Manitoba one day to see one up close and personal.
- She is originally from New York. You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, New York, but you can never take the Brooklyn out of the girl!
- She love to spend her free time at the aquarium, the zoo, theme parks, and just being a kid with her kid. She also loves traveling and wants to experience the rest of the world. Her favorite places so far have been Greece, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica, Israel, Prague, Budapest, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Alaska.
- She loves water and isn’t sure how she ended up in the desert. Give her a beach or a pool any day.
- Her dog Luca is her fur baby.
Last modified: May 30, 2023