Ariela Cotler is a proud Jew, Israeli, a daughter, wife, mother of 4 amazing people, and grandmother of 9.

Ariela, born and raised in Jerusalem, studied at Hebrew University and subsequently worked as a legislative assistant and parliamentary secretary for Menachem Begin and the GH”L party (subsequently the “Likud”) in the Israeli Knesset from 1967-1979. Once in Canada, she worked over the years as a social worker at the CLSC, has taught and lectured. The main topics included Jewish education, Jewish identity and the centrality of Israel.

Her first introduction to Montreal’s Jewish community was the Federation building. The two organizations she initially joined were The Jewish Education Center – working with the young and young adults on issues of Jewish education and identity; and The Canada Israel Committee , QIC, and subsequently CIJA- to work towards enhancing the issues of Israel advocacy and Israel- diaspora relations.

This led to Ariela to become Montreal’s Chair of State of Israel Bonds Woman Division from 1982-1986, a member of the Board and Executive of JNF, and became the first chair of the committee for “The Commemoration For Israel’s Fallen Soldiers”, which made Montreal’s Jewish community one of the first communities in Canada to have this day as part of its annual community calendar since 1988. She also was among those who pushed to start the tradition of celebrating Yom Ha’Azmaut – Israel Independence Day, in a community wide rally in downtown Montreal, since 2002.

Ariela has remained involved in all issues concerning Jewish education, Israel advocacy and Israel-diaspora relations.

Ariela Cotler joined Ottawa, Quebec and Atlantic Canada Regional Board of Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University in 2018.