Interviews with Olim

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

A. I was born in Pretoria; studied Veterinary Nursing at Pretoria University, worked in Johannesburg at the SPCA as a veterinary nursing sister. I also learned aromatherapy massage and reflexology in Johannesburg. Then moved to Durban to study Homoeopathy (seven year medically-based course. In South Africa, you need to become a medical doctor in order to qualify as a Homoeopath) and, once qualified, worked as an assistant to a really good Homoeopath in Cape Town. I made aliyah from Cape Town.

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

A. Out of my high school class of 22 at the Jewish Day School, six of us turned out to be gay. We used to joke that they put something in the water. I didn’t actually realize I was one of the 6 until at 22 I fell madly in love for the first time and it happened to be with an Israeli kibbutznikit woman while on kibbutz ulpan! When I brought her home to meet my parents, my  “Likudnic” father was more upset about the fact that she was a kibbutznik and so by default “Avodah” (Labour) than the fact that she was a lesbian! I am pretty apolitical and so had no idea what he was on about. My mother generally prefers males to females, so she wasn’t impressed by the situation either, but fortunately her son drank some of the “gay waters” as well, so more males were added to her little tribe. Phew.

Q. Were you involved at all in the LGBT community back home? 

A. Does clubbing count?

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

A. I’m not sure what that means. I’ve been to one Haifa Pride and one Tel Aviv Pride, and enjoy the LGBT English-Speakers Group’s online movie nights. I would love to socialize more with Lesbians, but find them to be an elusive species.

Q. How long since you made Aliyah? 

A. I made aliyah with the millenium (2000) which makes it easy to do the maths – at this point 21 years ago

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

A. I came back to Israel dragging my “Avodah Kibbutznikit” – kicking and screaming unfortunately back to her kibbutz.

Q. Why did you make Aliyah? 

A. I always thought of myself as an Israeli born into a South African body by accident, so I always wanted to live in Israel. I come from a Zionist family so I got a bit of a shock to discover that they didn’t approve. They were Zionistic about their money going to Israel, not their flesh and blood! I, however, love living the dream.

Q. How is it going so far? 

A. The Israel I fell in love with as a child and teenager was a chaotic balagan. This rapid transformation into a first world police state hasn’t been that much fun for me, but unfortunately you can’t stop progress. I love Israelis though, they are my favourite people and thankfully haven’t changed all that much.

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. I work mainly as a Homoeopath, but have taught English as well, and lately have gone back to some reflexology and massage as I recently bought a really light portable table and enjoy driving around the country treating people in their homes. 

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. Ivrit is good. When I first arrived I started treating babies so I learned the vocab around teething, diarrhoea, ear infections etc. I got a bit of a shock the first time I encountered a 3 year old with angina. Turns out that angina is Hebrew for tonsillitis. Go figure?? Nodules are pronounced noodles. Try to keep a straight face when being told about the noodles on various body parts!

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far? 

A. The loss of the concept of “it.” Going for a walk with my new puppy and being asked, “Is that a dog?” And I’m like…. “no, it’s a cat!” Like what is wrong with these people?! Only to discover (after the third time in as many minutes) that they are asking if IT’S a dog or a dogett, so that they can tell me that he/she is cute! Makes it difficult to be gender neutral without lying and I don’t always want to discuss my gender choices with every Shmulic and Avi.

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community? 

A. I wish it was easier to penetrate – seriously no pun intended!! When my gay brother came to visit, we couldn’t get into a club together. I still have no idea where to go dancing. (Would love to find out though.)

Q. How is being LGBT in Israel different to back home?

A. It’s thankfully totally different. I lived in an anti-Semitic homophobic community. Then I made aliyah and was staying on the kibbutz. During my first week I discovered that the pool was closed because a private function was taking place. It was the wedding of a kibbutz member. After about 5 years, when the couple broke up, I discovered that it had been a wedding between two women. It had been such a non-issue that everyone who mentioned it just said wedding, not gay wedding or commitment ceremony… I was really amazed at what a non-issue it was!

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

A. It’s a different world now so hard to say.