SINAI Schools held its annual Benefit Dinner on Sunday, February 26, at the Marriott Glenpointe Hotel in Teaneck, New Jersey. The ballroom was at capacity, with over 900 people attending to support SINAI and their unique model of inclusive special education.
This year’s honorees were Adam and Ilana Chill, parents of a SINAI student from New Rochelle; Rabbi Chaim and Malca Jachter, parents of a SINAI student from Teaneck; Moshe and Esther Muschel, longtime SINAI supporters from Englewood; and Moshe and Orit Zharnest, members of SINAI’s new Young Leadership Committee, from Fair Lawn.
The moving program included many elements to illustrate the breadth of services SINAI provides, and the wide range of children they serve. Menashe Shershow, a young SINAI alumnus who is now studying psychology at Hartford Honors College, spoke about stigma and inclusion, and the role SINAI played in his life. Parent and honoree Ilana Chill gave a moving speech, opening up about what it is like to be the parent of a child with special needs. SINAI’s dean, Rabbi Yisrael Rothwachs, and Michael Maron, CEO and president of Holy Name Medical Center, described a new program developed in partnership for Holy Name’s Institute for Simulation Training called “Breaking Barriers in Care,” to sensitize health care professionals to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and improve patient care. A highlight of the dinner was the premiere of this year’s feature documentary, “Jacob’s Footprints,” which tells the story of Jacob Adler, a SINAI student with cerebral palsy who inspires everyone who meets him. Presentation speeches and films presented at the dinner are available online at https://www.sinaischools.org/2017-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 numerous 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.
