Project Legacy Recognizes Two Leaders
Whose Vision, Faith, and Service Helped Shape the Deal Community
Beneath the soaring marble columns and magnificent architecture of the Library of Congress, family members, Members of Congress, diplomats, business leaders, rabbis, and community representatives gathered for Project Legacy’s Celebrate America 250 Gala, an evening recognizing individuals whose lives have strengthened their communities and embodied the values of faith, service, leadership, and the American spirit.
Hosted by Project Legacy under the leadership of Ezra Friedlander, the gala featured remarks by Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, and welcomed numerous Members of Congress, foreign dignitaries, and civic leaders from across the United States and abroad. During the evening, Project Legacy also announced its national initiative supporting legislation for a United States commemorative coin honoring the 100th anniversary of Anne Frank’s birth, furthering its mission of preserving history and educating future generations.
Among the evening’s most meaningful moments was the recognition of Joseph M. Betesh a”h, a pioneer whose vision and leadership helped lay the foundation for the modern year-round Deal community, and Charlie Saka a”h, one of the leaders and principal drivers who helped the entire Deal community mature and flourish.
A Meaningful Voice for
the Occasion
One of the evening’s highlights was the address delivered by Chief Rabbi Saul Kassin, the spiritual leader of the Syrian Sephardic Jewish community. Introducing Chief Rabbi Kassin, Project Legacy founder Ezra Friedlander explained that it was especially appropriate for him to address the gathering during America’s 250th anniversary celebration because Sephardic Jews established the first Jewish synagogue in America. Chief Rabbi Kassin’s participation underscored the enduring contributions of Sephardic Jewry to the nation’s history and reflected the values of faith, community, and religious freedom that have shaped American life since its earliest days. His remarks provided historical perspective that beautifully complemented the recognition of the lives of both Joseph M. Betesh a”h and Charlie Saka a”h.
Joseph M. Betesh a”h
A Life of Service
Joseph M. Betesh a”h’s story began in Brooklyn, New York, where he was born in 1924 to immigrant parents who believed deeply in faith, family, and the promise of America. That promise was tested in 1943 when he was drafted into the United States Army. Serving as a medical technician with the 534th Amphibian Engineer Medical Detachment during World War II, Joseph M. Betesh a”h participated in the New Guinea and Luzon campaigns, repeatedly risking his own life while caring for wounded soldiers under combat conditions. His courage earned him the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. Later in life, Joseph M. Betesh a”h often reflected that G-D had protected him through the war for a greater purpose.
A Vision That Changed a Community
After returning from the war, Joseph M. Betesh a”h and his brothers established a successful business in Philadelphia before relocating to Deal, New Jersey. In the 1970s, West Deal was still a small community with only a handful of year-round Sephardic Jewish families.
Where others saw an undeveloped neighborhood, Joseph M. Betesh a”h saw the opportunity to build a permanent community centered on Torah, family, and communal responsibility. Together with his wife, Sonia Betesh, and with the help of Charlie and Morris Cohen a”h, Joseph M. Betesh a”h founded Magen David of West Deal in 1977, purchasing the synagogue’s original property and helping establish what would become one of the cornerstone institutions of the Deal community. He later spearheaded the creation of the Deal Sephardic Youth Center, among many other community organizations. What began with a handful of dedicated families has since grown into the largest and most vibrant year-round Orthodox Sephardic community in New Jersey. Thousands of families today benefit from institutions whose foundations were laid by Joseph M. Betesh a”h, who believed in a vision long before it became a reality.
Leadership That Inspired Others
Accepting the tribute to Joseph M. Betesh a”h was his son, Daniel Betesh, who reflected on his father’s extraordinary life and enduring influence. He spoke about his father’s belief that G-D had spared him during World War II for a greater purpose. That purpose, he said, became the building of a community where families could live year-round, educate their children, strengthen their faith, and create opportunities for future generations.
“My father’s greatest success,” Daniel remarked, “wasn’t simply the institutions he helped build. It was the people he inspired to build alongside him.”
Those words captured a philosophy that guided Joseph M. Betesh a”h throughout his life. Leadership, in his view, was measured not by recognition but by the ability to encourage others to step forward and continue the work. Today, thousands of families benefit from institutions that grew from the vision shared by Joseph M. Betesh a”h and the community’s earliest builders.
Daniel Betesh also acknowledged the honor of accepting the award in the presence of Mr. Eric Trump, representing the Office of the President of the United States. Betesh expanded on that by calling President Donald Trump “the greatest president our country has ever had since its Founding Fathers!”
Among those Daniel recognized was Charlie Saka a”h, whose leadership would later help strengthen and expand many of the institutions established by the community’s founding generation. “Charlie was one of the leaders my father helped inspire and was proud to work hand in hand with.”
Charlie Saka a”h
A Lifetime of Community Leadership
While Joseph M. Betesh a”h represented the pioneering generation that helped establish the community’s institutional foundation, Charlie Saka a”h became Joseph M. Betesh a”h’s partner, who would go on to expand and continuously build upon that foundation. Over the course of his life, Charlie Saka a”h, along with his wife Brenda, earned the admiration of countless families through his generosity, humility, and unwavering commitment to communal service.
His life reflected a combination of business success and communal leadership. After founding Sakar International in 1977 and growing it to a globally recognized electronics company, he devoted countless hours to strengthening the Deal community. As a driving force behind institutions such as the Magen David Complex, Deal Sephardic Network, and other community organizations, Charlie left a lasting impact for future generations.
His leadership extended across many of the community’s religious, educational, and charitable organizations. Whether supporting schools, synagogues, youth programs, or families in need, Charlie Saka a”h believed that strong institutions required continuous investment, not only financially, but through personal involvement and leadership.
Those who worked with Charlie Saka a”h often described his ability to bring people together around a common purpose. He understood that every successful community depends on volunteers willing to dedicate their time, energy, and resources for the benefit of others.
His son Mr. Sammy Saka, the chairman of Hillel Yeshiva, received the award on his family’s behalf and spoke about his father’s contributions that helped strengthen all the Deal organizations that serve thousands of families throughout the Deal community and beyond. It is important to note that each of Charlie and Brenda’s children has continued his legacy by continuing to help build the Deal community through various charities they spearhead. His recognition at the Library of Congress celebrated not only a lifetime of philanthropy and communal leadership, but also the countless lives touched through decades of service.
A Community Built Across Generations
Although Joseph M. Betesh a”h and Charlie Saka a”h came from different generations, their lives reflected a shared commitment to building a stronger community. Their contributions reflected different stages of the same story. One generation laid the foundation. The next ensured that foundation continued to grow.
The recognition at the Library of Congress was more than a tribute to two remarkable men. It was a celebration of a legacy that continues to live in the institutions they helped create, and in the community they both helped build. q
