Advisory Committee
Cantor Elizabeth Sacks
Cantor Elizabeth Sacks is the Senior Cantor at Temple Emanuel. She was ordained as a cantor in 2007 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and holds a B.A. in Jewish Studies and Music from Harvard University. From 2007-2012, Cantor Sacks served as the Associate Cantor at Central Synagogue in New York, focusing on worship, education, and young professional engagement. In addition to her congregational work, Cantor Sacks advises national Reform Movement organizations across the country, chairing and serving on associations for the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the American Conference of Cantors, and the Union for Reform Judaism, She is a frequent presenter at conferences and panels on the topic of worship design and ritual innovation. Cantor Sacks is married to Elias Sacks, Director of the Program in Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. Cantor Sacks, Eli, and their children – Charlie and Tova – live in Denver.
Cantor Elizabeth Sacks
Senior Cantor, Temple Emanuel
Sheila Purdin
Director of Early Childhood Education at Temple Sinai in Denver
Sheila Purdin
Sheila Purdin began her career in early education thirty years ago in her native Seattle, WA. She is currently the Director of Early Childhood Education at Temple Sinai in Denver, CO. She was previously the director of two Reform synagogue early childhood centers in Atlanta, GA. During her twenty years in Atlanta she was an active member of the Jewish Early Childhood Council of Atlanta, having served as co-chair and chairing the Kallah planning committee, and sat on the board of PJ Library Atlanta. She participated in the URJ Pursuing Excellence in Your Early Childhood Center Community of Practice and is a First 36 Fellow. Sheila has been a member of Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism since 2008 and currently serves as their VP of Marketing. She lives in Denver with her hamster, Princess Lightening Bolt, and has two adult children who are pretty fantastic.
Susie Valdez
Susie Valdez is the Senior Director of Early Childhood Education, Boulder JCC. She grew up in Boulder and attended CSU where she received her degree in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in Education. During her time in Fort Collins, Susie was fortunate enough to work as a parent and family educator for United Way. Since 1988, she has been teaching or directing preschool. She has worked at the Boulder JCC since 2003, first as a teacher and now as the director. Susie feels so fortunate to be a part of such an outstanding program and surrounded by the wonderful teachers who work there.
Susie Valdez
Senior Director, ECE Boulder JCC
Cathy Rolland
Founding Efshar Board Chair
Cathy M. Rolland, Founding Efshar Board Chair
Cathy Rolland is the URJ’s Senior Director of Emerging Networks, which includes bringing innovated approaches focused on engaging individuals and families from diverse backgrounds with a focus on families with young children, youth/teens and 20/30s adults. Cathy is also the inaugural president of the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ), an affiliate of the URJ. Cathy recently earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She also has a certification in Jewish Early Childhood leadership from Gratz college. Cathy and her husband reside in Denver, CO where she is honored to serve as the chair of the Efshar Project, previously known as the Colorado Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative.
