SINAI DEDICATES JUDAIC STUDIES AT NEW YAVNEH PROGRAM IN MEMORY OF FORMER TEACHER AND FAIR LAWN RESIDENT RIVA BLATT WEINSTEIN

Sinai Special Needs Institute, an organization dedicated to educating special needs children and young adults within the Jewish community, will dedicate the Judaic studies program of its new Yavneh Academy program in Paramus in memory of former Fair Lawn resident Riva Blatt Weinstein, who passed away several years ago.

The Riva Blatt Weinstein Judaic Studies Program will begin with the September 2006 academic year will be the first Jewish preschool and elementary school for children with learning and developmental disabilities in Northern New Jersey.

Riva Blatt Weinstein was a Yavneh Academy alumnus and later served as a teacher at the school. Riva was a true humanitarian and was active in various Jewish outreach programs and educational organizations in Bergen County.

“Riva was a wonderful young woman who, throughout her life, continuously demonstrated a love for children and commitment to Jewish education,” said Dean Laurette Rothwachs. “We are grateful to Riva's parents, Jacob and Michelle Blatt, for their generosity and are honored to dedicate the Sinai Judaic studies program at Yavneh Academy to the memory of this extraordinary young woman.”

Sinai currently offers special needs programs at yeshivas throughout New Jersey, including an elementary program in Livingston. The Sinai program at Yavneh will incorporate an intensive special education curriculum with Hebrew and Judaic studies. Sinai's teachers and therapists will address multiple learning styles within a variety of educational contexts, and will oversee shared programs and activities between Sinai and Yavneh students. The core curriculum of English, math, science, social studies, Hebrew language, Jewish laws and customs, and Torah studies is accompanied by a strong emphasis on social skills and social interaction.

Founded in 1982, Sinai Special Needs Institute (www.sinaiinstitute.org) provides for the educational, psychological and emotional needs of Jewish children and young adults with varying types and degrees of learning and developmental disabilities through its elementary school, and its girls and boys high school programs. Additional programs such as Supervised Home Environment for Learning Independence, self-advocacy, Project 'SELF', life skills, college guidance and vocational training enable students to continue their education as they transition to adulthood. It is the only Jewish day school for special needs students to be accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools.

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