Born and raised in the northern town of Kiryat Tiv’on in Israel, Daniel, now 20, chose to participate in the Kol Ami program in 2017-2018. Kol Ami: Jewish Peoplehood Academies bring together young Israelis and Jewish high school graduates from abroad to study and volunteer together, exploring issues of Jewish identity and strengthening the participants’ connection to the Jewish people.

“I decided to join Kol Ami because I was – and still am – very interested in learning about other cultures and getting to know people from all around the world, especially Jewish people my age,” said Daniel.

Assigned female at birth, Daniel came out as transgender a few months before starting the program. And while being openly trans in Kol Ami affected his experience, Daniel credits the staff and participants with being as accommodating as possible and accepting of his trans identity. He talked to staff before the program started so any potential issues could be solved beforehand and to ensure his male social transition was as smooth as possible.

Daniel was assigned female roommates but was granted an inner room with more privacy and otherwise engaged in the same activities as the other male participants.

“Everyone referred to me using the correct name and pronouns, which was a great experience to have so early on in my personal journey and cannot be taken for granted,” recalled Daniel. “Most importantly, I was not ‘othered’ and did not have to sit out of anything because of my identity.”