Justin Sheftel Memorial tourney back for its 19th year The annual Justin Sheftel Memorial Fund Softball Tournament is returning for its 19th year on June 17 at the Lehigh County Athletic Fields at Cedar Crest Parkway West outside Allentown. Sixteen teams will compete in four divisions followed by playoffs and a championship matchup. Meanwhile, there will be games, all-star baseball and softball clinics, and other activities throughout the day. It all begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m.
“On June 17, we will mark the 19th anniversary of the tournament,” said Linda Sheftel, Justin’s mother and president of the fund’s board of directors. “We find this hard to believe. We feel so blessed that 18 years after a drunk driver struck Justin, we have the support of our community, and we are able to honor and remember him.” The three all-star clinics, cosponsored by St. Luke’s University Health Network — baseball for
middle and high schoolers, baseball for fourth and fifth graders, softball for fifth- through eighth-grade girls — are free to participants in youth, school or Little League organizations. Registration by June 15 is required. There will be prizes, including two bikes donated by Bike Works. Other attractions include the food vendors NV Donut, Take a Taco and Vince’s Cheesesteaks; a silent auction of sports memorabilia, game tickets, toys and more; tie-dying (free for kids under 6; $10 for kids 7 and over); face painting, lawn games, a buzzed-driving demo where participants can wear simulation goggles; a 50/50 raffle; and a Mocktail Mixoff sponsored by Red Robin. The tournament
was founded in 2006, after a group of Justin’s friends approached his family two months after his death in 2005 with the idea of starting one in his honor. “How they were able to organize this event continues to amaze us,” Linda said. “The tournament has grown into a significant community event which everyone looks forward to throughout the year.” The mission of the fund is “to celebrate Justin
by providing athletic and educational opportunities for underserved youth in the greater Lehigh Valley.” For more information and to register for the clinics, visit the fund’s website at justinsheftel.com.
Temple Beth El opens new play area By Cindy Schneider Temple Beth El
Temple Beth El celebrated its new fenced-in children’s play area on May 9 with a Lag B’Omer picnic and a retirement commemoration honoring Sheryl Block and Paula Linn.
Block is retiring after 35 years of service to the temple, and Linn has directed its religious school for the past year. The main event of the day was the opening dedica-
Sheryl Block
Paula Linn
tion of 18 panels of the fence adorned with artwork created by religious school children, teachers and parents, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Day School, the JCC, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, and temple board members, staff and sisterhood. Each panel of the fence represents a middah (value). The selected middot are written in both Hebrew and English. The design process began in March with community artist Ellen Alt inspiring the group with creative ways to express the middot. In April the group revisited the drawings they made on large paper templates. The drawings were traced onto contact paper in wild and wonderful colors. The contact paper was then pasted onto a panel of outdoor vinyl. Finally, the 18 pieces of art were hung inside the fenced area, and the entire project came to life. Temple Beth El thanks everyone who contributed to this group effort. It was a creative learning opportunity that allowed participants to have fun.
28 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
