SINAI Schools held its annual benefit dinner on Sunday, February 28, at the Marriott Glenpointe Hotel in Teaneck, NJ. The ballroom was at capacity, with almost 850 people attending to support SINAI and their unique model of inclusive special education.

This year’s honorees were Rena and Jerry Barta of Teaneck; Eve and Heshy Feldman of Englewood; Karen and Rabbi Steven Finkelstein of Bergenfield; Rosalyn and Stephen Flatow of West Orange; and Annette and Jerry Kranson of Fair Lawn. SINAI Schools presented their Community Partnership Award to Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, celebrating 30 years of SINAI dinners at Sanzari’s Glenpointe Hotel.

The moving program included the dedication of SINAI’s Bayrish Schreiber Music Therapy Program, and several short films about the issues facing parents of children with special needs. A highlight was the premiere of this year’s feature documentary, “Saving Freddy,” which addresses the topic of depression and suicidal ideation in teens on the autistic spectrum. Presentation speeches and films presented at the dinner are available online at https://www.sinaischools.org/2016-dinner-videos.

SINAI partners with inclusive Jewish day schools and high schools throughout New Jersey to provide both secular and Judaic special education to children with a wide range of disabilities. SINAI creates a completely individualized program for each child based on his or her social, emotional, and academic needs, translating into a 1:2 professional staff-to-student ratio and several different in-house therapies, with specialists on staff at each school. The costs SINAI takes on each time they accept a new student are extraordinarily high. Without significant financial aid, SINAI’s tuition—which is reflective of SINAI’s own costs—is beyond the reach of the vast majority of families.

For more information, or to make a donation, call 201-833-1134 x105, or visit www.sinaischools.org.