Cindy Smukler Dorani's passionate involvement in the Jewish community is not surprising seeing as she was raised in a home where her parents, Joe and Connie Smukler, were not only leaders and philanthropists in their local Jewish community but were also active on an international level through the Soviet Jewry movement. Cindy has maintained the value she was taught as a child of Tikkun Olam and at 45, she has established herself as one of the Philadelphia area region's philanthropic leaders.

At the age of twelve, Cindy made a visit to Israel that changed her life.  She experienced the feeling of homecoming in spite of the fact she had never been there before.  It comes as no surprise then that Cindy’s career as a volunteer within the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia organization steered her into her recently accepted position of co-chair for the Center for Israel and Overseas.  But Cindy’s volunteerism doesn’t end there.  She also a Vice President of Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy Board, holds leadership positions for OROT and JFCS, has received awards and recognition for her community service in addition to raising her three children.

Recently, Cindy and her Center for Israel and Overseas co-chair, Michael Coslov went with a small group to Israel and “visited the places we need to care about, from hospitals and army camps to amazing new Federation projects. I love showing people the Israel that I've come to know" Cindy said of her visit.  Cindy has also led Women’s Philanthropy missions to Israel, sharing her perspective of the land with participants. "I want my generation to care as much as our parents' generation has cared.”  Cindy has successfully encouraged a number of mission attendees to become more involved with Federation.

"Cindy is extraordinarily dedicated and committed to the Israel and Overseas agenda," said Jeri Zimmerman, Director of the Center. "Her energy and enthusiasm for visiting the projects that we fund, and then sharing that information with others, is remarkable."  Cindy is an advocate for the land that has provided her a second place to call home.  She is thankful to those who have preserved Israel and protected it for the Jews of today and for those who have yet to come and believes in sharing that message.