Interviews with Olim

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

A. I was born in Philadelphia, PA, and grew up in a Philadelphia suburb. With the exception of a summer in Miami, I’ve spent my pre-aliyah life in the northeast US.

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

A. 35. I’d been closeted for a long time, and finally felt like I had to come out or I couldn’t breathe. In a scary conversation, I told my then-wife that I had been with men in the past. She was totally supportive, as were my parents and friends.

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

A. After I came out, I became active in the DC Frontrunners, a running group open to all and a great way to meet people with shared interests in running and walking. I was also a supporter of the DC LGBT Center and a few other causes in the community.

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

A. I’m still finding my place. I am involved in social life here and meet people through friends, the LGBTQ+ olim group and a few other groups, but I have not yet found a particular LGBTQ+ cause or organization I am committed to.

Q. How long since you made Aliyah?

A. Almost seven months!

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

A. On my own, although I have some extended family here.

Q. Why did you make Aliyah?

A. I needed a fresh start, especially after coming out somewhat recently. I also wanted to change my career from the financial sector to human rights, learn to speak Hebrew fluently, and needed some space from the US after Trump and the pandemic.

Q. How is it going so far?

A. Ups and downs, but I’m doing ok. I have to caveat that with my experience here has basically been a vacation

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. Currently I am focusing on learning Hebrew and acclimating to life here.

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. Much stronger than when I arrived, but still a ways to go to fluency. סבלנות

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

A. Finding an apartment and the related banking tasks was a major stress. Places in Tel Aviv move fast. And getting a bank guaranty plus writing 12 checks as security in advance was something new to me.

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community?

A. I think people are generally friendly and helpful. There are many subcultures within the community, but a strong sense of connection runs through all of them. Friends are very important here.

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

A. Israel has had a tolerant culture longer than we have, or at least longer than I experienced it. As someone who came out later, I am sometimes a little jealous of people around my age who were out since they were teenagers.

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

A. Not a thing.