Born in Montreal, Aviva’s father was a Holocaust survivor from Kežmarok, Czechoslovakia. Aviva moved to Toronto as a child, where from an early age she began performing in musical venues across the city. Aviva has been Chief Cantor and choir director at Toronto’s Congregation Habonim since 2010 and received her rabbinic ordination in 2021.

In addition to her cantorial work, Aviva is an accomplished country, jazz and blues singer/ composer/recording artist. A Factor grant recipient, she has recorded a solo album as well as 2 albums with guitarist Tom Bellman. Aviva has performed at many high profile charitable events and programs, including appearing in a commercial sponsored by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism that debuted at the 2024 Academy Awards, and singing the Canadian and American national anthems at a Toronto Raptors game on the first night of Hanukah in 2019.

Aviva has also sung and/or provided narration for a number of Holocaust related documentaries.

In 2015, Aviva was the music leader and choir director for the Toronto March of the Living. At Auschwitz on Yom Hashoah, Aviva conducted the Canadian March of the Living choir as well as performed a selection of Holocaust related songs in a program that was broadcast to large audiences around the world.