Interviews with Olim

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

A.  I was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA and grew up in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. I also lived and worked in Austria and Germany, then moved to NYC where I lived 30 years before making Aliyah

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

A. My mum dragged me out of the closet at 22 or 23. It went well I guess. Kind of a shock. Of course, I tried to deny it, but mum wasn’t having it!! 🤣🤣

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

A. No.

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

A. None.

Q. How long since you made Aliyah?

A.  Just over a year and a half.

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

A. I moved here on my own and it was the best move I ever made!!

Q. Why did you make Aliyah?

A. I always felt empty when I went back to the States. In December 2019, I decided to make Aliyah within two years, then Covid came along and in March 2020 I uploaded all my docs to Nefesh B’Nefesh and here we are an Israeli citizen! I have to say I can only describe it as my soul is complete and this is home and I am glad to be home!!!

Q. How is it going so far?

A. Incredible best move I have made!

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. I work at a hitech company in Petach Tikvah.

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. Beseder. It’s coming le’at le’at in ulpan at Citizen Cafe in Tel Aviv .

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far? 

A. Honestly, just learning the language. Everything else has come so easy. People have been so kind and always willing to help.

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community?

A. Coming from NYC, let’s say it’s different. So many people here can’t accept they are gay and the live in the closet. There is such a vast array of differences. People seem to be uneducated about U=U [Undetectable=Untransmittable]. It’s like a tale of two worlds in this little country. In Tel Aviv, the gay community is a lot like NYC, but outside in the Periphery, it’s a whole different world of closeted people who are really sad and not living their lives… I get it, but at the same time it’s odd to hear someone say “I don’t like women. I am upset at G-d for making me attracted to men and I know I will have to get married to a woman and have kids”.

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

A. In the States, it’s easier and more accepted.

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

A. Only thing is, I would have done it 30 or 40 years earlier.