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It is #JewishHeritageMonth and this is the story of Lea Roback!
Born in Montreal on Nov. 3, 1903 to Polish Jewish immigrants, Roback spoke Yiddish at home, French with locals & English in school.
In 1926, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
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Born in Montreal on Nov. 3, 1903 to Polish Jewish immigrants, Roback spoke Yiddish at home, French with locals & English in school.
In 1926, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
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A polygot, she could speak several languages by the time she was an adult.
In 1932, she joined the Communist Party of Canada and used her language skills to help immigrants to Canada get settled.
In 1935, she established the first Marxist bookshop in Montreal.
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In 1932, she joined the Communist Party of Canada and used her language skills to help immigrants to Canada get settled.
In 1935, she established the first Marxist bookshop in Montreal.
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In 1936, she began working with Therese Casgrain to gain women the vote in Quebec.
In 1937, she organized 5,000 garment workers in a three-week strike for better pay and work conditions.
In 1958, she left the Communist Party after the Soviet Union invaded Hungary.
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In 1937, she organized 5,000 garment workers in a three-week strike for better pay and work conditions.
In 1958, she left the Communist Party after the Soviet Union invaded Hungary.
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Later in life, she denounced the Vietnam War & apartheid in South Africa. She also fought for women to have the right to an abortion & access to contraception.
She continued marching for worker & women's rights well into her 80s.
She died on Aug. 28, 2000.
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She continued marching for worker & women's rights well into her 80s.
She died on Aug. 28, 2000.
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