Community Magazine July 2021

TAMMUZ - AV 5781 / JULY 2021 53 MOTHERHOOD AND COMMUNITY Sherryl married at 18, kept her job, and landed an appearance on a commercial. Her husband’s business brought the family to Bar Harbor, Maine for three to six months of the year. Bar Harbor shares borders with Acadia National Park, a stunning national treasure. Sherryl was blessed with three sons and then a daughter. Frederick Betesh, her oldest son, was born in 1983. A determined child, he learned to mountain climb and became a level two climber. He formed the first Jewish young men’s surfing camp on the Jersey shore, “Camp Freedom.” Morris Betesh, affectionately known as “Rabbi Mo B,” is a kindergarten rebbe , a high school teacher, and he also learns in kollel. Eliot Betesh is a carpenter and also does technical electronic work. He is known for his “golden hands.” Margaux, Sherryl’s youngest, first learned about outreach abroad and in the U.S. and is now an educator for a kiruv group called Meor Manhattan. Living in Bar Harbor and raising her children in Acadia’s splendor had a profound effect on Sherryl and her children. It enhanced Sherryl’s spirituality, as only Hashem could have created such beauty. This environment, and, of course, Hashem’s hand, fostered Sherryl’s children’s fervor for the outdoors and adventure. Sherryl would hike in the wee hours of the morning before returning home to feed her children breakfast and get them dressed. Since Sherryl was 17, she has been what she calls “holistic,” practicing natural health, and doing only nutritious cooking. “No white sugar or white flour for my family!” When her children enrolled in kindergarten, Sherryl stayed in NJ during the school year, returning to Maine for the summers. Back in NJ, Sherryl realized how important friends are. “In our awesome community, friends and family are the same. You can turn anywhere and be involved in something meaningful provided you have the desire to.” A VOLUNTEER PAR EXCELLENCE IS BORN In 1998, Sherryl and her husband divorced, and she and her children moved back to New Jersey. Sherryl focused on reconnecting with her childhood friends. Before she knew it, she was volunteering to fundraise. Sherryl first got involved with the Karen Tzlach, Carol Haber's Bridal Fund. She composed a heartfelt appeal and collected a substantial amount of donations. This encouraged her to volunteer with other organizations. Since Sherryl is sociable, she was invited to take over the microphone at quite a few events. Learning as she went along, Sherryl began with small events and stretched herself, taking on more responsibility and organizing larger fundraisers. The first big event she coordinated was a health-focused event called Pure Inspiration for Congregation Shaare Tefilah Bene Moshe of Eatontown. Sherryl saw firsthand that by asking someone if they want to be included in hesed , you are providing them the opportunity to be included in a mitzvah. “If you ask someone to do something good, Hashem finds a way for you to receive help. For Pure Inspiration, one volunteer specialized in PR and marketing, another obtained 32 health-related product vendors. This allowed me to focus on the creative and fundraising pieces. It was magical. The event led to Bonei Olam making their first event in the community that summer.” Sherryl was instrumental in opening the NJ Sephardic Bikur Holim Food Pantry. The subsequent collection of food programs included the monthly local yeshivot “Rosh Chodesh Chesed Mitzvah” that ran for a number of years and later turned into the Orange Bag Project. The help and work of many talented women and teachers was crucial to sustaining this program. Sherryl is also a community advocate on issues that adversely impact our residents’ health and home environment. THE LATEST CHAPTER In 2013, Sherryl reconnected with and married her childhood friend, Morris Bouganim. Before the pandemic, the couple traveled between Eatontown and Mexico City for seven years. Morris recently moved his business from Mexico to the United States. Sherryl enjoys dancing, nature, Torah classes, and cherishes being with her family and grandchildren. A “flavorful cook,” Sherryl prepares many ethnic dishes from around the world in addition to her ancestors’ traditional foods. Sherryl is looking forward to a creative chapter full of color and new things. She is now doing portraits in oil pastel and making semi-precious jewelry for babies. Please connect with Sherryl at sherryl@betesh.us or 732-245-9550. Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach.  Her coaching specialties include life, career and dating coaching. Ellen works part-time as an entitlement specialist at Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services. She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com ( www.lifecoachellen.com) . Acadia National Park