Gail Donner, Executive Director

Gail began her "dream job" as Executive Director of Congregation M’kor Shalom in the fall of 1994. With almost 20 years of administrative experience at the time, including nine years at a research center directed by a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, she was able to combine her professional skills with her already established dedication to Congregation M’kor Shalom.

Along with her husband, Richard, and two children, Gail joined Congregation M’kor Shalom in 1978, soon after moving to Cherry Hill (at that time, there was actually a waiting list to get in!). Due to the active encouragement of a number of welcoming congregants, she quickly became a member of the Ritual Committee and became involved in planning holiday programs for preschool children. She served as Bulletin editor for three years, Ritual Committee chair for 7 years, was on the Board of Trustees for 6 years and an officer (Secretary and Vice President) for 3 1/2 years.

Gail served on the Social Action Committee when it was first formed, was part of the early years of the "Women & Spirituality" group, and was on the subcommittee that created the current version of our Shabbat & Festival prayerbook.

Gail was also active in regional UAHC activities, serving on the Board and as an officer of the Federation of Reform Synagogues of Greater Philadelphia. She was chair of their Regional Biennial held in 1994. Gail was part of a national UAHC training seminar in Membership Recruitment, Integration and Retention and has facilitated workshops on Membership at regional programs and individual synagogue board retreats.

She is a Senior member of NATA, the National Association of Temple Administrators, a branch of the Reform movement, having passed a series of exams in a variety of synagogue management areas as well as Jewish history, customs and ritual observance.

The opportunity to combine her administrative and management skills with her commitment to synagogue life has truly offered her the "chance of a lifetime."

You can send Gail Donner an e-mail at GailDonner@mkorshalom.org