I would like to share some nachas by describing a recent event that highlights an important element of the SINAI School’s educational model: Mainstreaming.

As you know, SINAI recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of commitment to excellence in Jewish special education. SINAI operates elementary and high schools within “host” schools throughout northern New Jersey. In addition, SINAI serves as a resource to the entire community, in that most of all of the Jewish day schools throughout the community refer children to SINAI and consult with us on special education matters, whether or not we are hosted within that particular school.

But our host schools in particular -- which are Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, Yavneh Academy, Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC), Ma’ayanot, and Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School ­– deserve special recognition for the service that they provide to the community. This is because of the “mainstreaming” opportunities provided by SINAI’s host schools. Whether it’s “academic mainstreaming” for the many SINAI children who, with our support, are able to participate in “regular” classes for academic subjects – or “social mainstreaming” with host school children at recess, lunch, prayers, gym or other settings – mainstreaming is a hallmark of the educational and life experience that we provide both for our children, as well as the children of the host schools who interact with our children.

Recently, the students of our high school at TABC participated in TABC’s 11th and 12th grade Shabbaton. The Shabbaton was an exceptionally positive experience for both TABC’s and SINAI’s boys. SINAI has always been impressed, in general, with TABC’s staff and students. The environment that TABC created at the Shabbaton was one of warmth, closeness, and spirituality. TABC’s boys prayed beautifully, presented polished divrei Torah, and spontaneously began zemirot at each meal. The relationships between TABC’s staff and students were remarkable. Students flocked to their teacher’s tables to hear articulate thoughtful words of Torah. Staff and students could be found conversing late at night and learning together early in the morning. Decorum throughout Shabbat was impressively maintained through a gentle, personal approach. It was truly beautiful.

The impact upon SINAI’s boys was profound. TABC’s students and faculty embraced SINAI’s students in ways that we could not have staged more perfectly had I written the script myself. Rabbi Josh Kahn and Rabbi Steven Finkelstein of TABC brainstormed with our staff before the Shabbaton to develop ways to integrate SINAI’s students –and hand-picked TABC “buddies” to learn with our boys at a various points over Shabbat. TABC’s boys included our boys in every aspect of the Shabbaton, even to the point of sharing kibudim (or honors) with them in shul.  SINAI’s boys really felt that they had made new friends and had been part of something great.

What happened last weekend at the TABC Shabbaton represents social mainstreaming at its best – because it was such a positive experience for both TABC’s boys and SINAI’s boys.

There are so many wonderful experiences that occur every day within each of our host schools. Perhaps we should write to you more frequently, not only as hakarat hatov to our host schools but also as a means of informing and educating our community. TABC’s Shabbaton serves as a great example, and so we felt that it should be brought to the attention of the community.

Laurette Rothwachs
Dean
The SINAI School
Teaneck