Eastern Women

If Arab women were given a voice, what story would they tell? To be a woman is a gift. But that gift does not come without challenges. Historically, women around the globe have fought to be heard. The stories of Arab women in particular have often been veiled in mystery. In Hear Us Speak, Suzy Kanoo lifts the veil. As a CEO, Suzy has enjoyed great success as an Arab businessperson; as a woman, she has witnessed firsthand how Arab legislation and culture has not always kept pace with a world that continues to evolve.

Ita was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. The place was the former Pale of Settlement, which was a large swath of land in Western Russia where Jews were forced to live for centuries. The year was 1918 and Russia was in the midst of two revolutions. Ita was caught in the middle during this time of great political and social upheaval. Wave after wave of murderous anti-Jewish riots, or pogroms, descended upon Jewish shtetls, and the only chance for her survival was to escape. Escape was not easy. In fact, it could be deadly.