He studied Natural Sciences and Economics at university in Crimea, and later social sciences at the University of London, the University of Vienna, and the School of Economics & Law in Tel Aviv. In 1917, Kanievsky joined the Jewish Self Defense in Russia, and was one of the founders of the Russian branch of HeHalutz. He also served as a delegate to the Tzeiri Zion convention and the General Zionist Convention in St Petersburg.