Interviews with Olim

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

A. I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, and grew up on a moshav in the Negev.

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

A. I came out in College, when I was 27. It was a gradual coming out, but for the most case, it was an easy experience.

Apparently though, as I recently found out, I never actually came out to my parents (although I was sure I did), but rather I just introduced them to my partner at the time, and we continued from there. So, a few months ago, after they told me that, I actually said, for the first time, “Mom, Dad, I’m gay.” It went well.

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

A. I worked at a LGBTQ bookstore, and was involved with a few gay organizations in Milwaukee and Kansas City.

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

A. I am a Qulpan teacher, I plan programs for the Haifa LGBT English-Speakers Group, and run Trivia events in Haifa and Tel Aviv. I am also a member of the Haifa Bear group.

Q. How long since you made Aliyah?

A. I made Aliya with my family in 1975, went to University in the USA after my military service, and stayed. I returned to Israel in 2014

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

A. I moved with a significant other, but within six months I was single. He eventually returned to the USA, and I stayed.

Q. Why did you make Aliyah?

A. For me it was a homecoming, I never really planned on staying in America. I have family here, my formative years were here, and I feel at home in Israeli society and culture.

Q. How is it going so far?

A. It was a huge adjustment, first finding myself single after an almost 15 year relationship, and then being gay and out in Israel for the first time. I did find a great support system here, between my family, friends, and new friends, and my life is better now than it has been in years.

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. I teach Hebrew at Ulpan.

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. Fluent

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

A. Learning to navigate gay Israeli society, and being a single middle aged gay man, living in the periphery.

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community?

A. It is very different from the communities in the USA. In some ways it is much more vibrant and active on both local and national levels, but in others it is far more fragmented, and still trying to find its way in the world. There is a lot of potential and opportunities for growth and activism, but in many places the radical activist are overshadowing the mainstream.

Q. How is being LGBT in Israel different to in your previous country?

A. Hard to say since learning to be gay in Israel is a part of learning to be single, and I can’t really differentiate between the two.

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

A. Not really. Had I known then what I know now, I probably would have ended my relationship before moving here, because the stress of the move broke what was, in retrospect, already cracked. Any big move only magnifies issues you may already have, in a relationship, or with yourself. You need to be prepared for the stresses of a big move, the culture shock, and understand that moving to a new place is very different from a trip or even an extended visit. Making Aliyah is a wonderful thing, but only if you are well prepared, have (or can create) a support system for yourself, and always get involved in your local community, be it LGBTQ+ or other.