In the Beginning 

Doni’s connection to Jewish communal responsibility began literally in the beginning – with a father who worked for the Jewish youth group, NCSY. The family moved around as they followed his father’s career, eventually settling in Los Angeles. 

In 1991,  he arrived in Baltimore to attend Ner Israel Rabbinical College, first as a high school student, then undergraduate, and never left the community. He graduated with a Masters degree in Talmudic Law, simultaneously taking courses at Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his MBA. 

It was while he was attending Ner Israel, that Doni was introduced to his future wife, Chaya, now a professional artist, was earning her degree at the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York.  

It was the first time the two talked. And yet, ironically, their paths may have crossed briefly as young kids, having grown up only three blocks from one another in LA. Even more coincidentally, they even attended the same Jewish day school, but never knew each other (not surprising since they were three grades apart).  

Making a Difference 

Doni, a first vice president with Newmark, first learned about The Associated while serving on the board of Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion. It was then that he was introduced to Ken Gelula, who was the executive director of CHAI at the time. 

It was from Ken that he began to learn about CHAI’s work in five neighborhoods in Northwest Baltimore City. And one of their goals overlapped that of the synagogue – attracting young families and building a thriving community. 

That began his long-standing Associated involvement, first volunteering for CHAI’s Good Neighbor Day, then serving on the CHAI’s board. He became a member of The Associated’s Young Leadership Council. And in 2018, he received The Asociated’s Harry Greenstein Young Leadership Award, recognizing young adults who display sustained leadership in service to The Associated and its agencies.  

Early on, his grandfather emphasized the concept of Kol Yisrael Arevim – we are one nation – to the young Doni. As Jews, we have a responsibility to think outside ourselves. It was a concept that would resonate with him, particularly as he continued to work with The Associated. 

“We are all brothers and sisters,” he says. “We may not agree on everything, but there are many things we can agree on, from the importance of Jewish continuity, to addressing poverty, unemployment and mental health to the recognition that Israel is our homeland.” 

Today, Doni sits on The Associated’s board and is a co-chair of The Associated’s Insight Israel Forum. The Forum is a labor of love for someone who has always been passionate about the Jewish State. 

“The Insight Israel Forum is a place where people can come together to build a connection to Israel. For me, Israel is deeper, intrinsically who we are as a people. It defines us and our identity,” says Doni. 

The father of five children ranging in age from four to 20 – Batya, Naomi, Rena, Perri and Avigdor – Doni continues to live his grandfather’s values and follow in his footsteps. 

“My grandfather was my inspiration,’ he says. “I always try to emulate him and achieve what he accomplished.” 

Fun Fact about Doni 

Did you know Doni came in second in his school’s spelling competition when he was only in second grade. He beat out the school’s first through eighth graders, losing only to a seventh grader? The word that felled him: moccasin.