Like many writers and editors at The Jewish Link, I have had the opportunity and privilege to write about many organizations and charitable efforts over the years, all of them worthy. In a few cases, I have had the great opportunity to become a donor to the very organizations about which I write. Today I turn my attention to share some special words about SINAI Schools, an organization I have supported since moving to Bergen County and have written about many times.
This year’s article is a little different, as I will be among the honorees for the 2026 SINAI Benefit Dinner, which will be held on Feb. 22. I agreed to take on this role in an effort to raise awareness and much-needed funds for this essential community organization. I want to explain why I feel so strongly about SINAI that I must personally contribute to its welfare and continued success.
My husband, Alexander, who passed away last February, felt strongly that all children should have access to the best possible education, and we both deeply valued the dual curriculum yeshiva concept. In fact, we moved here from New York as newlyweds, before we had children, with the intention of helping our children benefit from Bergen County’s yeshiva day school system. We found and continue to see the schools here as among the best available. As a day school and yeshiva high school parent now with children in three different Bergen County schools, I feel grateful for the teachers, staff and administrators who watch over my three children every day. I know how much effort it takes to educate children and I believe it is one of the most important jobs there is.
Because of its unique set of goals, SINAI Schools faculty, staff and administrators work even harder than their counterparts at the other day schools in Bergen County to make sure every child receives an education tailored to his or her specific needs. I remember like it was yesterday—watching, with Alexander, the 2013 video “Heroes,” which featured the Minchenberg family. After observing the many challenges their son endured at different schools and then seeing him thrive at SINAI, including when he was called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah, Alexander said, “How can we not support this school? How can this yiddishe neshama not have a place made for him in a yeshiva?” The fact was that there needed to be a day school for this child and others like him. And in fact, we learned that two of his siblings were at SINAI as well due to their own unique challenges.
I have since learned that SINAI meets the needs of a diverse student body with developmental, intellectual and complex learning disabilities. There is no “typical SINAI student.” I have quite a few friends whose children have attended SINAI.
SINAI is able to meet each pupil’s unique needs because everything they do is highly individualized. Each student’s academics, therapies, and emotional and social support are customized specifically to help that student build on his or her strengths and overcome his or her challenges. In order to do this, SINAI has small classes and a professional-to-student ratio of nearly 1 to 1.
SINAI operates with a school-within-a-school model, in which children with disabilities are educated alongside their mainstream peers. As with everything at SINAI, each student’s inclusion opportunities are tailored to his or her strengths and challenges and may include classes, lunch and/or after-school activities.
While the students of SINAI are spread throughout seven yeshiva day schools in Bergen and Essex counties in New Jersey, as well as Manhattan and Queens, the beneficiaries of the schools are spread much wider. As I learned when I interviewed an honoree and board member who now serves as SINAI Schools’ current president, Tzvi Solomon, every child who attends a partner school is a beneficiary of the culture of inclusion. Together, thousands of students throughout our schools have learned the power of making every peer feel welcome. I want to celebrate, amplify and be a part of this culture of inclusion, and I want my children to benefit from it as well.
After more than a decade of interviewing people associated with SINAI, I see it as slightly different from other organizations. I have found every person I’ve interviewed who is associated with SINAI to be inspirational in their own way, and they all contribute to making our community a better place. From Ilana Chill, a SINAI parent who refused to give up on her son’s future, to Rabbi Dr. Yisrael Rothwachs, SINAI’s current dean, to Sam Fishman, SINAI’s managing director, I have found that the continued existence of a program for students with disabilities is a gargantuan task that can only be accomplished by a lot of people who see their work as part of a team. It’s been a privilege to watch SINAI from the sidelines these past years, and I’m honored to be on the same team in any way I can.
SINAI views its mission as ensuring a place in the Jewish community for all our children. As part of furthering this mission, SINAI announced at its dinner last year that it is raising funds to open Adir Academy, which will be the nation’s first Jewish therapeutic day school for students with mental health challenges. This school is deeply necessary, especially as rates of mental health issues in teens have risen dramatically in the last decade.
My children and I are proud to help raise funds for SINAI with a named scholarship fund in Alexander’s memory, to build upon his love of learning and ensure that more students have access to SINAI’s programs. I am humbled to join the SINAI dinner this year and to stand alongside honorees Ron and Diane Strobel, who have been incredible supporters of SINAI for 30 years, and Yakov Karasick, who has been part of SINAI since its infancy (and his).
At this dinner on Feb. 22, SINAI will also be premiering a new feature documentary, “Eli,” the story of a child with a huge personality and complex challenges, and his dedicated parents, Leo and Dina Herskovich.
Please give generously to SINAI and please join me in supporting this exceptional school at its annual dinner. Learn more and sign up at http://sinaidinner.org.
To read this article as it originally appeared in the Jewish Link, click here.