Sherly America-Gosal was born in Manado, Indonesia in 1963. When she was only eight, she read about God’s love for Israel in the Bible. At the same time, the media propagated hate for Israel. So she asked her parents, who told her to believe the Bible.
From then on, Sherly has had a passionate love for Israel and the Jewish people. But it took many more years until she moved to the Netherlands and actually met members of the Jewish people.
After completing her undergraduate degree in Jakarta, Sherly studied commercial economics in the Netherlands and began a career in banking and utilities.
In 1995, she became involved in the diamond industry, where she met many Jews.
In 2003 she married Patrick America. The couple runs their own diamond wholesale business, exporting to Asia and Russia.
Sherly is a member of the Amsterdam Diamond Bourse, an affiliate of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, while Patrick is a member of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse.
Sherly and Patrick are generous philanthropists, who started charities supporting orphans, underprivileged students and the homeless in Indonesia.
Sherly is also active in international charitable organizations dedicated to community development in Asia, Africa and South America.
It was at the office of the President of the Amsterdam Diamond Bourse that Sherly first met a representative of Keren Hayesod – and the rest is history …
She pioneered the Keren Hayesod cause in Asia and tirelessly advances it, mainly among Christian business and community leaders.
At her initiative, Keren Hayesod Friends of Israel fundraising events have been held in Singapore for seven consecutive years, with the participation of hundreds of influential leaders from Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea and Papua New Guinea.
As the driving force behind several women’s missions to Israel, Sherly became President of the Women’s Division of Friends of Israel in 2015.
Her vision is to promote Keren Hayesod among many more people of influence around the world, in order to help to fulfill the Biblical prophecy.
The worldwide Keren Hayesod family wishes to thank Sherly for her generosity, vision and dedication. May you enjoy many more years of good health and happiness with Patrick and all your loved ones, along with continued activity on behalf of Keren Hayesod, Israel and the Jewish people!
