Leah Jones

Leah Jones' life changed somewhat over the past 10 years. She explains, "Ten years ago, I was an out-of-work, non-Jewish, stand-up comic; now I'm a VP in marketing, Zionist Jew."

She is "an avid bicycler and always invites people to her Shabbat table, break fast for Yom Kippur and any other occasion where Jews ought to be together…She's taught on G-dcast, participated in Limmud, presented at Jewlicious, written for PresenTense and shared wisdom and Jumpstart," according to Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr, who nominated Leah for Double Chai.

Rabbi Schorr also noted that Leah "has been at the cutting edge of social media in the Jewish community for some time. A first-generation blogger, Leah's blog continues to be a resource for people who want to learn about reform conversions…She truly loves being Jewish and loves living Jewish…Most importantly, she's kind-hearted, unassuming and humble. A combination that is hard to come by in a world of wunderkinds."

Name:
Leah Jones

Age:
35

Pays the bills:
Vice President of Social and Emerging Media for Olson Public Relations

On the side:
Vice President of napping, cycling and watering my roof garden

Relationship status:
Single

Describe yourself in 10 words or less:
Does Jew-by-choice count as three words or one?

Celebrity doppelganger:
Zach Galifianakis

How do you Jew in Chicago?
I’m co-founder of TBD Minyan, founder and organizer of Itza Mitzvah with Rabbi Zedek, member of Emanuel Congregation, host of many Shabbat dinners and active with the URJ intro to Judaism classes and conversion panels. I participate in Jewish bike rides and continue to write the blog, Accidentally Jewish. I’ve represented Chicago five times at ROI Community – a conference in Israel hosted by Lynn Schusterman.

Passions:
Cycling, hosting huge dinners, writing and my work in marketing

How do you give back?
I support NPR and Planned Parenthood, create spaces for people to do Jewish, staff large fundraisers for Emanuel Congregation and send $18 to every charity walk a friend does. 

Fill in the blank: If time and money were limitless, I would:
make sure my parents could retire early, write more, ride my bike more and laugh more with my nieces and nephews.

Chicago's Jewish community in 10 years:
I think some of the larger independent minyanim will become synagogues, Jewish geography will shift into Ravenswood and Andersonville and as a community, we’ll focus more on eco-kashrut than kashrut.

Me in 10 years:
Hopefully, there will be children in my life, my family will be healthy and my Shabbat dinners will be legendary.