Aviv was born to a Polish refugee father fleeing with his family to South Africa from the Holocaust.
She studied social work in Johannesburg as it was the only legal way to get involved with the anti-apartheid movement without ending up in prison.
[3] Following her Master's degree, Aviv was a clinical social worker at the Southeast Nassau Guidance Center and executive director of the Alternative to Domestic Violence.
[3] In the early 1990s, Aviv became the assistant director of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council.
[4] She was eventually promoted to the rank of vice president for public policy with the United Jewish Communities.