meet the people behind the vision

cheryl gnatt bender

A respected educator, and valuable leader in the Montreal community, Cheryl Gnatt-Bender has developed important hands-on teaching skills with children and adults alike. Through creative and diverse programming, she has opened the minds of our community and helped them connect to their Jewish identity. Cheryl began her teaching career at the PELO afternoon Hebrew program at the Gardenview School in St. Laurent. She also worked as a special education teacher and assistant teacher in the Hebrew Academy’s Individualized Learning Program. Cheryl has been teaching Bat Mitzvah lessons, Torah classes, and High Holiday children’s programs for over 20 years within various synagogues and community centers.

In 2008, Cheryl joined Federation CJA West Island as the Coordinator for The West Island Jewish Family Learning Center. Through her love of teaching and communicating Jewish values and ideals, Cheryl developed a thriving program aimed at creating that special “spark” to bring participants closer to a comfortable and rewarding Jewish identity. Cheryl’s program has attracted over 1,500 participants since its inception. Cheryl is married to Reverend Amiel Bender. They are the proud parents of five children. Along with Aviva, Cheryl has developed this program in memory of her parents who were Holocaust survivors and who were devoted to the continuity of our people through Jewish and Holocaust education.

AVIVA DIAMOND

Aviva Diamond is a Jewish studies educator with over 20 years experience teaching Hebrew and Yiddish to all ages. A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors ,she is passionate about honouring their memory and the memory of all those perished in the holocaust by educating future generations about the dangers of intolerance, hatred and racism. "By educating our children we help to ensure that we never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. Most of all I want my children and my students to know that despite the pain and suffering holocaust survivors injured, many found strength and courage to rebuild their lives. This is what I learned firsthand from my grandparents and what is portrayed in the paintings inspired by the Holocaust survivors of the "travelling canvasses"project.