Interviews with Olim

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

A. I was born in Argentina, but between 5 months to 7 years old I was raised in Miami, Florida. The rest of the time I was raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

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

A. To my family when I was 27, I was a late bloomer you could say. It went really well, they said they were just happy if I’m happy. 

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

A. No, I wasn’t, I started to wanting to experiment with sexuality at 23/24 when Covid hit and then I moved to Israel. 

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

A. Not much, I go once in a while a girl’s party or queer one and participate in community stuff with friends when they tell me about it. 

Q. How long since you made Aliyah? 

A. Like a almost 2 years. I want to clarify that first I did Masa and then made Aliyah, so I have been in the country almost three years.

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

A. I came here on my own but after the Masa program, I made Aliyah with friends that were on the program with me. 

Q. Why did you make Aliyah?

A. I liked living here more, in my country things are bad economically and I felt that I would have a more stable future here. 

Q. How is it going so far?

A. Pretty good, but with hiccups along the way. I have my issues with Israeli society itself sometimes, but I have Israeli friends here who helped me through a lot of my issues here and I’m grateful for them. 

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. I’m a web developer, working for a company outside of Israel. 

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. Not good, could be better, but it will get there I think. 

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

A. I think staying. It’s horrible to say that but honestly with time Israel gives me fewer reasons to stay and more reasons to go back. Not because I miss my family, but because the society here is rough and war is rough. And I’m not a firm Zionist, never have been, but always thought as Israel as possible place to live, but now I’m here and in some ways its better than expected, but in other ways its way worse. And I’m at my limit with Ben Gvir and Netanyahu and every single horrible fascist person in the Knesset.

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community?

A. I think it depends where you live but here it feels like a friends group, depending on who you are, it’s nice I think and welcoming. 

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

A. Don’t know, I’m pretty happy with most of my decisions regarding Aliyah. Maybe I would have liked to take more time learning Hebrew better.