Holocaust Survivor

Leo (1921-2014) was born in Austria to Polish parents and had two sisters. He is the only member of his immediate family who survived the Holocaust. Leo wrote a book, Leap into Darkness, about his experience running throughout Europe during the War, and his escape from the French train and life afterward. Leo died in 2014, just two days before he was set to testify in the case against SNCF before the Maryland Legislature. Using archival audio from his testimonies and family recordings, Leo’s voice is woven throughout Covering Their Tracks.

Holocaust Survivor

Rosette Adler Goldstein was born in Paris, France in 1938. Her parents were born in Poland, but lived in Berlin for many years with their respective families. Her father, David, enlisted in the French army when he realized what was happening in Europe and in an attempt to protect himself and his family. He married Bronia Baum in 1937, and Rosette was born in 1938. Rosette was a hidden child in France, having been put in hiding by her parents when she was only three years old. Rosette would survive the war, hidden by the Martin family in a small village in the Normandy region. Rosette speaks regularly in schools and other venues about her experience, and is a tireless voice for those who can no longer tell the story. She was also a pivotal actor in the campaign to hold the French national railroad, SNCF, accountable for its role in the deportations of 76,000 Jews and thousands of others from France toward the death camps. Rosette’s own father was deported in December of 1943 toward his ultimate death on SNCF convoy number 64. Rosette believes deeply in telling her story and in the importance of bearing witness. To that end, she has been on seven Marches of the Living, most recently in April, 2023. Rosette resides in Florida, has two children, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Partner at Akin Gump and Pro Bono Legal Counsel

Rafi Prober is a partner and co-head of the congressional investigations practice at the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where he represents entities and individuals in high profile Congressional and other governmental investigations. He previously served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice during the Obama Administration. In addition to his traditional practice at Akin, Rafi has devoted significant time to pro bono efforts, including spearheading the firm’s pro bono representation of hundreds of Holocaust survivors and family members in their pursuit of justice from the French railroad company that was responsible for deporting these victims toward the death camps. Additionally, Rafi’s pro bono work has included representing the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC, and St. John’s Church in connection with congressional investigations into the forcible clearing of peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square, as well as a prominent witness in connection with his testimony before the January 6th Committee regarding the dangers posed by violent extremist groups. Rafi resides in Bethesda, MD with his wife, two children, and niece.

Narrator and Producer

Matthew Slutsky hails from Philadelphia, PA which is where he first fell in love with storytelling. For almost 20 years, Matthew has worked in U.S. politics, on various issue advocacy campaigns and in technology as a founding member of the social change website Change.org. Since attending the New School’s Documentary Media Studies program, Matthew has been a full-time producer, director and storyteller managing projects large and small. A few of Matthew’s recent credits include: "Sister Cities" (USA Today), “The Time Is Now,” (Acreage Holdings) a Super Bowl ad that promoted medical marijuana; “High Stakes: America’s Journey to the Affordable Care Act,” (Commonwealth Fund) a 2020 short documentary about equity in the American healthcare system; and the digital Food Network series “Fix Me a Plate,” starring chef Alex Guarnaschelli. Most recently, Matthew worked as a Senior Producer at Blue Chalk Media (amazing people!) and launched Unencumbered as a way to continue making beautiful stories alongside the talented network of collaborators he's built over the past twenty years. Matthew lives in Philadelphia, PA with his wonderful wife, Patty, his smart kids Henry and Louisa and an excitable sheepdog named Clara.

Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Lead State Department Negotiator in the Settlement of French Railway/SNCF Deportation issues with the French Government, and Special Adviser on Holocaust Issues to Secretary of State John Kerry

Former U.S. Senator and Lead Legislative Co-Sponsor of the Holocaust Rail Justice Act

Former Chairwoman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and Lead Legislative Sponsor of the Holocaust Rail Justice Act