Fonds 1040 - Motel and Chienke Sivak Fonds

Motel Sivak was born in a Ukrainian shtetl (small town) called Monastyryshche in 1909 to parents David (a Hasid and a Zionist) and Friede. Motel's family was forced to flee their village in 1920, and in 1923 they arrived to settle in Montreal. The following year, Motel helped establish the Montreal Hashomer Hatzair with the dream of becoming a halutzim (pioneer) in a kibbutz in Palestine. Motel also initiated the Marxist-Zionist movement of the Left Poale Zion and was involved in a number of other Zionist Youth Movements. In 1925, Motel met Lithuanian-born Chienke Sivak, who he would go on to marry. Motel and Chienke spent some time in a kibbutz in Palestine before returning to Canada, where they continued with active membership in the Zhitlovsky Branch of the Labour Zionist Farband Movement.

Motel passed away in 2002. His memoir is entitled "Chiekne's Motl and Motl's Chienke: A Twentieth Century Story," and exists in both Yiddish and English.

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.