Interviews with Olim

Q. Where were you born and where did you grow up?

A. New Jersey

Q. At what age did you come out? And how did it go? 

A. Depends what you mean by come out. To myself? I knew I was a lesbian at age 14. To friends? It took until I was 16-17. I only told my mom when I was 19, and my dad when I was 20. My friends were super accepting for the most part, and so were my parents. Overall a good experience!

Q. Were you involved at all in the LGBT community in your previous country?

A.  Ish. There was a queer youth organization I occasionally attended until I felt like I had grown out of it.

Q. What is your involvement (if any) in the LGBT community in Israel?

A. I try and participate in Jerusalem Open House events, and of course the Jerusalem LGBT English-Speakers Group.

Q. How long since you made Aliyah?

A. About seven months?

Q. Did you move here on your own or with family/friends/significant other? 

A. On my own, although I had and have many friends who moved, and my entire extended family lives in Israel.

Q. Why did you make Aliyah? 

A. Antisemitism

Q. How is it going so far? 

A. It’s amazing. I never saw myself in Israel long-term when I was growing up, but since being here I can’t imagine what else I would have done

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. I currently work for Birthright.

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. Sababa, I grew up speaking Hebrew.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far? 

A. Honestly? Most things have thank gd gone my way, I haven’t had too many hiccups.

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community? 

A. I think it’s very cool to see such a strong and active community, especially coming from a background where being queer and Jewish did not mesh.

Q. How is being LGBT in Israel different to your where you lived previously?

A. Now I just operate as if everyone knows I am gay, I can put a Pride flag out because I live on my own, etc.

Q. If you were making Aliyah now, would you do anything differently?

A. Mentally, I wish I had done it after having my driver’s license for 5 years but that’s just not how age works. I would not have waited another year just to have an easier license conversion.