EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION

In the shadow of World War II, a little Polish boy named Stefan Rozenfeld faced almost impossible odds. Born into a Jewish family in Łódź, where only 4% of Jews survived, Stefan’s life seemed destined to be swallowed by tragedy. Yet, through the quick thinking of his parents, and the extraordinary courage of a the Holocaust hero Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Stefan’s story became one not of despair, but of survival and hope.

Sousa Mendes defied his government and risked his own career by issuing life-saving visas to desperate families fleeing Nazi terror. Among those he helped was young Stefan — a boy whose future, and whose laughter, would have been lost if not for one man’s refusal to look away. Today, we invite you to discover Stefan — a little boy who could be your son, your grandson, your cousin, or your student. Through his eyes, we see both the terror of persecution and the extraordinary power of human compassion.

EXHIBITION SPECIFICATIONS

This exhibit was curated by historian Dr. Cláudia Ninhos, developed by the Fundação Aristides de Sousa Mendes with support from the Diplomatic Institute of Portugal, and designed by the architectural design firm of Rosmaninho & Azevedo. It includes 12 interlocking panels arranged in a striking star-shaped design that is light enough for a community space, and sturdy enough to stand as a memorial that of history and humanity. Artifacts and stories illuminate Stefan’s survival and the courage of Aristides de Sousa Mendes as a Holocaust rescuer.

This exhibit is available for commemorative or educational use by middle/high schools and universities, libraries, synagogues and churches, and other organizations in the greater Westchester County, NY and Long Island, NY regions. The panels must be picked up and returned to the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center in White Plains, NY.

FEES

Public and Private Middle and High Schools

Exhibit without Speaker: $100

Exhibit with Speaker: $200

All Other Venues

Exhibit without Speaker: $300

Exhibit with Speaker: $400

Speaker: Leah Rozenfeld Sills

This project is a collaboration between the Sousa Mendes Foundation and the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center. To order the exhibition and/or schedule a presentation, please fill out this form.