I am writing to express my gratitude for Elizabeth Kratz’s feature on SINAI Schools, “Supporting Classmates, Supporting SINAI.” (December 15, 2022)

As the parent of four current and former high school students who have had extensive interactions with SINAI students at Torah Academy of Bergen County and Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls, I was so happy to read about Tzvi and Erica Solomon and how Tzvi’s early involvement with SINAI students influenced his passion for SINAI as a community institution. My own children have also had amazing experiences with SINAI students in their respective schools. My daughters’ interactions with the girls include partaking in the lunch buddy program as well as simply enjoying meals and typical teen activities such as taking selfies and making videos with them, while my son, a TABC graduate, was paired with a SINAI student through the two schools’ lunch buddy program, which organically went beyond just having lunch to include playing basketball together.

It’s easy to forget how lucky we are as a community to have the presence of SINAI students at our elementary and high schools. By spending quality time with these students, we enrich ourselves and develop an appreciation for the gifts these children bring to the community.