Leah Susskind, z”l♦

Former ICRF International Chair and ICRF Israel Chapter Founder and Chair Emeritus

Leah's Story

Leah Susskind was one of ICRF’s most devoted supporters and longest-serving leaders. She served on the International Board of Trustees from the mid-1980s to 2011 in key leadership roles, including as Chair. She then went on to found the ICRF chapter in Israel, serving as its first President and guiding spearhead. Her leadership helped build a tangible bridge between ICRF’s work in North America and Israel that helped shape ICRF into the world-renown organization it is today. A fluent Hebrew speaker, Leah made Aliya and lived in both New York and Jerusalem. She remained an active force within the Israel chapter, serving as President until her death in 2019. In 2015 she graciously hosted an ICRF Mission dinner at her home in Jerusalem to commemorate ICRF’s 40th anniversary in 2015. In 2018, she again hosted an ICRF Mission dinner in her Jerusalem apartment.

Leah first became involved in ICRF in 1978 through her friendship with ICRF Founder Dr. Dan Miller, whom she knew through Park Avenue Synagogue, where she was a Hebrew school teacher. After attending several events in the organization’s early days, she was quickly inspired by the young organization’s lifesaving mission and helped fund one of ICRF’s very first grants.

Leah’s own father had died from lung cancer in 1964, when there was no research available for the disease. She was convinced that the answer to cancer could be found in Israel and advocated unabashedly on behalf of Israel’s brilliant scientists, fervent in her belief that supporting their research would yield cures and new life-saving drugs for the benefit of all humankind. Leah was not shy about knocking on any doors if it could potentially help Israeli researchers make significant inroads in the search for a cure. Not only did Leah successfully raise funds, but she led by example. Leah and her husband, Jacob Susskind, z"l, were among ICRF’s most generous donors.

From a young age, Leah was a passionate Zionist with a lifelong devotion to the State of Israel.

In addition to her steadfast leadership and lifelong commitment to ICRF, Leah served on the boards and working committees of many important Jewish organizations, such as the UJA Federation of New York, the American Committee for Weizmann Institute of Science, the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, the American Committee for Tel Aviv Foundation, Congregation Maalot Yerushalaym, Akim, and others.

♦ Inspiration Society member