{"url":"https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/12_under_36/ari-lewis/article_64ff45fc-c512-11e9-989c-ff8da4b92db9.html","title":"Ari Lewis: Young leader blending business, Judaism, Cleveland pride","domain":"clevelandjewishnews.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/8847168/pexels-photo-8847168.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"young Cleveland Jewish leader","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"dfdf717d","id":"dfdf717d-5990-48b2-b65b-98ccf5ab63a5","description":"Profile of Ari Lewis, 24, named a 12 Under 36 honoree as managing partner at Green Block Group.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Profile of **Ari Lewis**, 24, named a **12 Under 36** honoree as managing partner at Green Block Group.\n- Birthright trip to Israel inspired him; he prioritizes talent retention as hypothetical Cleveland mayor.\n- Highlights Jewish pride through Maccabiah Games and refereeing soccer since age 12.\n\n## The story at a glance\nThis article profiles **Ari Lewis**, a 24-year-old Cleveland Heights resident and managing partner at the **Green Block Group**, selected as the youngest **12 Under 36** honoree by the Cleveland Jewish News. It covers his background, Jewish experiences, and views on Cleveland. The piece is part of a series recognizing young Jewish community leaders.\n\n## Key points\n- Grew up dreaming of playing point guard for the New York Knicks; attended **Case Western Reserve University** and fell in love with Cleveland's people, culture, sports, restaurants, **Playhouse Square**, and **Cleveland Clinic**.\n- **Birthright** trip to Israel was his standout Jewish experience; made friends on second visit after first trip \"blew him away.\"\n- Referees soccer since age 12, officiating high school, collegiate, and semi-pro games; recently took up squash for its fast pace.\n- Played futsal for the U.S. in **2013 Maccabiah Games**, walking into **Teddy Stadium** with 30,000 cheering Jews.\n- As hypothetical Cleveland mayor, highest priority is retaining and recruiting top talent to build on existing smart people doing \"awesome work.\"\n- Mentors: **Lee Zapis**, **David Rhodes**, **Peter Martin**; first called his mom upon learning of the award.\n- Had bar mitzvah in 2007 at **Temple Beth Torah** in Westbury, N.Y.\n\n## Details and context\nAri keeps his Jewish heritage central while navigating business and investments at Green Block Group, inspired by Birthright to unlock potential in Cleveland.\n\nHe uses imagination from his Knicks dream to spot opportunities, referees soccer in free time, and values Cleveland's world-class assets discovered at university.\n\nThe profile notes his youth as the youngest honoree among accomplished peers, emphasizing family ties like calling his mom.\n\n## Key quotes\n- \"The greatest cities in the world are built by talented people doing extraordinary things.\"\n- \"Isn’t that what every good Jewish boy is supposed to do?\" (on calling his mom about the award)\n\n## Why it matters\nProfiles like this spotlight young Jewish leaders blending heritage, business, and community involvement in places like Cleveland. For readers in Cleveland or similar cities, it shows models for talent retention and local pride through figures like Ari Lewis. Watch for more **12 Under 36** honorees and their impact on Cleveland's growth.","hashtags":["#jewish","#community","#cleveland","#leadership","#young","#professionals"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/12_under_36/ari-lewis/article_64ff45fc-c512-11e9-989c-ff8da4b92db9.html","title":"Original article"}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-06T14:30:28.360Z"}