Sarah Lachs was born in Seattle, Washington, to Holocaust survivors who worked tirelessly to create a better life for their children in a new country. Her father worked as a painter at Boeing, while her mother sewed coats in a sweatshop. Despite their challenging circumstances, they provided for their family. Sarah took on the role of “teacher,” helping her parents learn English and navigate their new life in America.

After attending Yeshiva until 8th grade, Sarah switched to a public high school, where she connected with friends from diverse backgrounds. She then attended Stern College for Women, where her exposure to Yiddishkeit deepened as she learned about new customs and cultures. Sarah earned a BA in Political Science and initially planned to become a teacher. However, after marrying Sam Lachs, she chose to work alongside him in a new professional journey.

Together, they moved to Springfield 23 years ago. While Sarah’s involvement in CIS has spanned many areas, including serving as Chair of both the House and Kiddush committees, her proudest achievement was co-launching the Springfield Learning Experience program with Sam and several other families. Sarah played a crucial role in the program’s development, implementation, and funding, as well as interviewing candidates. This initiative not only raised the community’s visibility but also significantly aided its remarkable growth.

Sarah is deeply grateful for the opportunity to help build this special community and is honored to be recognized for her contributions.