Writer and storyteller Josh Rose joins David Levine to share his Aliyah story — from Manchester and London to Tel Aviv, from writing about Jewish and LGBTQ identity in the UK to building a new life in Israel after arriving just days before war changed everything.

Josh Rose never expected to make Aliyah.

He grew up in Manchester, lived in London, worked as an environmental manager, and built a writing life around Jewish identity, LGBTQ life, antisemitism, and belonging. Israel was not part of his family story. His parents had never brought him on family holidays there, he had no Israeli parent, and he did not grow up assuming that one day he would move.

Then he came to Israel on a volunteer trip for LGBT+ British Jews — and something shifted.

In this episode, Josh joins David Levine to talk about the surprising path that led him from London to Tel Aviv, why his friends saw the move coming before he did, and what happened when he arrived in Israel just days before war disrupted every plan he had made.

Instead of the organized beginning he imagined — ulpan, housing, routine, and a clear path forward — Josh found himself without a program, without a job, without a settled apartment, and alone in a bomb shelter. But through that uncertainty, he found friendship, community, flexibility, and a deeper sense that Israel was exactly where he needed to be.

David and Josh discuss Aliyah, writing, Hebrew, chosen family, antisemitism in the UK, LGBTQ life in Israel, Tel Aviv Pride, creativity, and why Tel Aviv has become the place where Josh can finally live all parts of himself together.

Recorded on location at Soho House Tel Aviv.

Credits:
Host: David Levine
Guest: Josh Rose
Editing: Laura Brickman
Associate Producer: Daniella Edelman
Social Media: Tehilah Simantov

Mentioned in this episode:
Josh Rose – https://www.instagram.com/joshrosewrites/
Josh Rose Writes – https://joshrosewrites.com/
Times of Israel: Josh Rose – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/josh-rose/
Birthright Israel – https://www.birthrightisrael.com/
Tel Aviv Pride – https://visit.tel-aviv.gov.il/
Jerusalem Open House – https://www.joh.org.il/
Gan Meir LGBTQ Center – https://lgbtqcenter.org.il/
Jewish Chronicle – https://www.thejc.com/
Jewish News – https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/
Jewish Telegraph – https://www.jewishtelegraph.com/
UK Jewish Film Festival – https://ukjewishfilm.org/
Sinnerman – https://okra-oval-5w2p.squarespace.com/2021-winner-josh-rose

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