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

A. I was born in New York City and grew up in Great Neck (on Long Island) until age 16. I finished high school in France.

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

A. I came out in college. It was a process, fits and starts. Coming out was not a one-time event for me but an “every time I meet someone” process. It goes on to this day.

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

A.Yes, at Brown (college) I was involved to a degree with the gay students’ organization (forgot the name but this was before “LGBT” naming) and in New York with the UJA-Federation Pride committee and as a member of A Wider Bridge too.

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

A. My synagogue (Kehilat Sinai); Gay Olim Group (this one thanks to Roy Freeman); member of the Agudah.

Q. How long since you made Aliyah?

A. I made Aliyah in May last year 2019.

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

A. I came on my own.

Q. Why did you make Aliyah?

A. I was captivated by Israel after an LGBT Jewish Federation trip in May 2016 and promised myself I would come back. I then had the opportunity after various chapters in my life closed in 2018 and I realized that the opportunity was “now or never” then. I decided on “now”.

Q. How is it going so far?

A. Pre-Corona I was sailing. My synagogue was open and full of interesting people from all over the world; we have an amazing rabbi and cantor who sing together like angels; I was loving my Hebrew Ulpan at Citizen Café and I was ready to start a business importing French wine here. Post-Corona: the wind has come out of the sails: our synagogue had to close and is just now re-opening, but with all the restrictions; Hebrew Ulpan went on line to Zoom and my business projects were suspended with the closing of restaurants.

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. I am a wine importer and own/run a wine business consulting agency, Martin Sinkoff Associates, www.sinkoff.com.

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. I would give myself a “C”. I struggle to understand spoken Hebrew. I am OK in class and in controlled settings but out on the street, I am mostly lost still.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

A. Hebrew!

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community?

A. Swell!

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

A. Not that different.

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

A. Study Hebrew as must as possible before you arrive.