Daughter of Holocaust Survivors who escpaped Poland and survived the Holocaust.

Leah tells the story of how Upstanders including a Portugese Diplomat helped her family survive.

Leah Rozenfeld Sills learned as an adult that her father, Stephen Rozenfeld, as well as her grandparents, Abraham and Eugenia Rozenfeld, escaped Poland and survived the Holocaust due to the immediate actions of Abraham who obtained transit visas from Bolivian Consul General Bilbao and subsequently through the heroic action of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese Diplomat stationed in Bordeaux, France. Sousa Mendes defied orders from his government and issued thousands of visas to people fleeing the Holocaust. Those people sought safety in Portugal and subsequently settled in countries around the world. She presents her family’s story of escape, both in the U.S. and in Portugal, and has been interviewed by national and international reporters about this topic. She was a featured speaker at the HHREC 2025 Human Rights Institute for High School Student Leaders at Iona University. Leah, a former librarian at the Riverdale Country School in Bronx, NY, holds an M.S. Ed. from the College of New Rochelle and a B.A. from The University of Massachusetts (Amherst). She is a longtime resident of New Rochelle, New York. She is also a board member of the Sousa Mendes Foundation, a director in the Sills Family Foundation, and a community activist who previously served on the boards of Songcatchers, ArtsWestchester and Family Services of Westchester.

"Living in the "Age of Disinformation", learning tools in the form of oral histories may prove to be very effective in promoting a deeper reflection of past events. Leah's presentation told as a family's story of struggle during the rise of Nazism was both personally moving and historically enlightening. Throughout the presentation the heroic feats of Sousa Mendes were seamlessly woven in to highlight the great effect of one man on many who were in grave peril. The artifacts sprinkled throughout added texture and a feeling of authenticity. I found the yellow star to be particularly memorable and thought provoking. Kudos to Leah for her creative energy in putting together this memorable session." Patrice Davidson

"I had the privilege of attending the presentation that Leah made last Saturday morning, July 12th. It was educational, fascinating , emotional in very subtle ways, and handled a very difficult topic - Stefan Rozenfeld’s journey to escape Nazi Europe with the help of Sousa Mendes- in a very mature way. The visual aids, readings, and very honest personal introduction made it that much more memorable and touching. I think it would be highly appropriate for any educational setting or community group and feel free to quote me on this… I think that all sixty people who were there would agree!" Beth Katz Shea

Leah is a member of GenerationsForward, a group of second and third generation individuals sponsored by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center in White Plains, NY. To download an editable flyer, CLICK HERE