On this episode of Chai Montreal, we speak with Ariela Freedman, the author of Léa: A Novel. Ariela, who teaches literature at Concordia's Liberal Arts College, discusses what motivated her to write about and share Léa’s story, and the amazing influence Léa had on her community.

Lisa and Ariela discuss Ariela's newest book, a novel based on the life of Léa Roback, a Jewish union organiser, activist and feminist. Born in 1903 in Montreal, Lea grew up in Beauport, a village outside of Quebec city, where she grew up in the only Jewish family in town. The Roback family returned to Montreal when Léa was an early teenager, and a few years later Lea began working in the city’s factories. After a few years studying and living in Europe, Léa returned to Montreal and became an active advocate for social justice and human rights, which continued for the majority of her life.

We love celebrating and highlighting the stories of strong Jewish women, and Léa Roback is a name to remember.

"Look out the window. The sky’s almost covered.
Some grayish white clouds, some almost black,
but between them you can see a bit of blue.
I focus on the blue." - Léa Roback