Sivak, Chienke, 1909-1996

Chienke Sivak was born in a Lithuanian shtetl (small town) called Pilvishok in 1909 to parents Gershon and Mary. While in Lithuania, Chienke was involved in the Hashomer Hatzair which prepared her for a pioneering life in Palestine. Chienke's family decided to relocate to Montreal, however, in order to stay close to family members who had recently emigrated. In 1925, Chienke met Motel Sivak, who she would go on to marry. Motel and Chienke spent some time in a kibbutz in Palestine before returning to Canada, where they continued their Zionist activities, including active membership in the Zhitlovsky Branch of the Labour Zionist Farband Movement.

Chienke passed away in 1996. Her memoir is entitled "Chiekne's Motl and Motl's Chienke: A Twentieth Century Story," and exists in both Yiddish and English.