Rabbi Mikie Goldstein (born 1965) is the first gay and Conservative rabbi to have a congregational appointment in Israel. Before deciding to study at rabbinical school in 2010, Mikie was involved in LGBTQ and AIDS activism, involved with the Israel AIDS Task Force in the early 1990s and as a volunteer at the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, where he served as chairperson between 2008–2010.
Mikie was raised in Liverpool, UK, in a modern Orthodox Jewish family. His parents met in Bnei Akiva, an international Orthodox Jewish youth movement that promotes religious Zionism. In Liverpool, Mikie’s family was one of the few strictly Shabbat-observant households, attending what he described as a “nominally Orthodox synagogue.” From a young age, Mikie was actively involved in Jewish life, including leading youth services at his synagogue and taking on leadership roles in Bnei Akiva at both local and national levels. However, his high level of Jewish involvement often set him apart from his peers, even at the Jewish primary school he attended, where he was the only student who wore a kippah daily—the head covering worn at all times by Orthodox Jewish men. Following the recommendation of family members, Mikie went on to attend Manchester Jewish Grammar School for high school, which provided both strong religious and secular education. It was during this period that Mikie began to sense he was different, though he initially struggled to process these feelings.
Mikie first experienced attraction to boys around the age of 9 or 10, becoming more conscious of it by age 12. Growing up in the late 1970s and early 1980s in England, he witnessed gradual societal shifts toward inclusivity, with some positive representations of gay characters in media. However, these developments contrasted sharply with the lack of acceptance in the Jewish community, which offered no space for someone to openly express their sexuality.
After finishing high school at 17, Mikie moved to Israel in 1982 to study at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Over two years, he immersed himself in rigorous Torah study and served in the Israeli army through the Mahal program for foreign volunteers. By this time, Mikie had come to terms with his sexual identity but kept it entirely private within the deeply religious environments that he was in.
Following his army service, Mikie returned to England in 1984 to study computer science at the University of Manchester. Balancing his active involvement in the Orthodox Jewish community, particularly as a Bnei Akiva volunteer, with concealing his identity as a gay man, as well as the difficult coursework, proved emotionally taxing. This tension prompted him to change his major to Middle Eastern Studies by the end of his first year. During his university years, Mikie’s internal conflict became more pronounced. He would often linger by the Jewish society’s notice board, which was adjacent to the GLBT society’s board, allowing him to discreetly learn about LGBTQ events without participating.
In 1988, after graduating from university, Mikie moved to London to work at Bnei Akiva’s national headquarters. Although friends occasionally teased him about his sexuality, Mikie was still not ready to come out. The heightened stigma surrounding the AIDS crisis, fueled by alarming public health campaigns, further convinced him that it was not the right time to be open about his identity.
At the end of that year, Mikie moved to Israel, this time with the intention of establishing his life there permanently, known as “making aliyah.” Living in Jerusalem, he found a supportive group of friends, some of whom were openly gay or gay-friendly, allowing him to begin expressing his identity more openly. While working in the Hebrew University Development Department, Mikie became involved in the newly formed LGBT society, a group that brought together students, faculty, and staff. It became another important space for him to connect with others who shared similar experiences.
As Mikie began coming out, he started to distance himself from friends he had studied with at yeshiva or had grown up with in England who had also moved to Israel. This process of self-discovery required separation from his old circles. The first family member Mikie confided in was his sister, who had also moved to Israel. While supportive, she expressed concern about the implications of coming out for his future, and was also concerned with how their parents would react. That concern combined with the geographical distance between Israel and England delayed Mikie’s conversation with his parents even more.
However, this distance also granted Mikie the freedom to explore his identity. In the early 1990s, he began volunteering with the Israel AIDS Task Force, eventually serving on its board from 1992 to 1995. Although the organization included many straight allies, Mikie’s involvement raised eyebrows within his religious community. When he eventually came out explicitly to more family members and friends, many responded with acceptance, noting that it made sense in hindsight, which eased the process for Mikie.
In 1995, at the age of 29, Mikie met Isi Yanouka, who would become his partner of 25 years. Isi, beginning his career in the Israeli Foreign Ministry, had just received his first diplomatic posting abroad. This life change coincided with a Passover visit by Mikie’s parents to Israel. At breakfast the day before the seder, Mikie decided to come out to them, since he would also have to explain his moving abroad. Summoning courage, he said directly, “Mummy and Daddy, I’m gay.” His father responded casually, saying, “We had suspected as much,” while his mother was more emotional and needed time to adjust to this news. Mikie also came out to his other sister, who was visiting from England as well, and she responded with full acceptance. Despite this milestone, the topic was not discussed further during the holiday, and his parents needed more time before they were ready to meet Isi.
Later that year, Mikie and Isi moved to Rio de Janeiro for Isi’s diplomatic posting. In Brazil, their presence as a gay couple sparked controversy within the Orthodox Jewish community. One rabbi circulated a petition protesting the Foreign Ministry’s decision to assign a gay couple to the consulate, but the consulate leadership dismissed the effort outright. Around this time, the Foreign Ministry implemented policies granting full spousal rights to gay and lesbian employees, marking a significant step toward inclusivity.
During their time in Rio, Mikie’s relationship with religion began to shift. Isi was not religious, and logistical challenges prompted him to drive on Shabbat and to adapt his observance. After the controversy with the rabbi, Mikie felt unwelcome in the main Orthodox synagogue and began exploring other communities, including Chabad and the Reform and Conservative synagogues. By the time their posting in Rio ended, Mikie and Isi had witnessed a significant cultural shift within the Jewish community, which had grown to embrace them. Even initially hesitant groups, like WIZO, recognized the couple as an integral part of the community, something that Mikie felt stemmed from their exposure to an openly gay couple, even if they were not “waving flags.” This acceptance stood in stark contrast to the challenges they faced in their next location, where the need for discretion was imperative.
In 1999, Mikie and Isi moved to Cameroon for Isi’s next posting. Although homosexuality was not fully illegal there, they had to maintain a low profile for safety reasons, avoiding public displays of their relationship. During a vacation to the U.S. toward the end of this posting in 2001, Mikie organized a dinner with Isi and his parents (who were also visiting), marking a significant moment in their acceptance. Later that year, Mikie’s parents also moved to Israel, and he and Isi returned as well, at which point the family dynamics had completely normalized.
When Mikie returned to Israel, he began to deepen his involvement with Conservative Judaism (known as “Masorti” Judaism in Israel). Although his years abroad had led to a loosening of religious observance, core aspects of Jewish life—like Shabbat and Kashrut—remained significant to him. Reflecting on his struggles with acceptance, he often felt, “Why be religious if they don’t want me?” However, Mikie’s perspective had already begun to shift even before thanks to an encounter with Rabbi Roderick Young, who had studied at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and later served as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) in New York, where he introduced Mikie to a new way of integrating Judaism and an LGBTQ identity.
In 1995, while on their way to Rio, Mikie and Isi stopped in New York and attended services at CBST for the first time. The experience was transformative, as it showcased a vibrant Jewish community where individuals could fully embrace their identities, even if they had previously faced exclusion elsewhere. This environment, where individuals reclaimed Judaism on their own terms, inspired Mikie’s appreciation for inclusive Jewish practice, which is something that he felt Masorti Judaism offered to him—even when the movement had not yet fully embraced LGBTQ clergy or marriages. So, once they had returned to Israel and Mikie was looking for work, he felt called to the Masorti Movement, and began working in fundraising there in 2002. Simultaneously, he also started volunteering as a fundraiser for the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, an LGBTQ center established a few years earlier in 1997.
In 2004, Mikie moved with Isi to Ireland for another diplomatic mission, where they remained until 2007. During this time, Mikie worked for the Israeli embassy while continuing his fundraising efforts for the Jerusalem Open House and the Masorti Movement from abroad. Upon returning to Israel, he quickly resumed his involvement with the Open House, where he was elected to the board. He played a critical role in resolving internal organizational tensions, a success that led to his appointment as chairperson in 2008. In this role, Mikie became deeply engaged in the organization’s operations, further solidifying his role as an activist within the LGBTQ community.
At the same time, Mikie became more involved with his Masorti synagogue in his local town of Rehovot, Congregation Adat Shalom–Emanuel. He took on roles in community organizing and began to consider the possibility of becoming a rabbi. However, while the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York had begun admitting gay and lesbian students in 2006, its Israeli counterpart, the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, had not yet done so. Mikie felt valued in his lay leadership roles within the movement, but was frustrated that there were still limits to his acceptance.
Despite this, Mikie’s influence as a leader in his synagogue remained significant. Serving on the search committee for a new full-time rabbi, he posed challenging questions about inclusivity. For example, he asked candidates how they would handle a gay couple’s request to be called to the Torah in honor of their wedding or anniversary. Some of the responses he received highlighted the ongoing need for progress within the movement.
After the horrific Bar-Noar shooting in Tel Aviv in August 2009, whereby a gunman opened fire at an LGBTQ youth center, killing two people and seriously wounding several others, Mikie had another experience that set him on the path to become a rabbi. For Yom Kippur that fall, a group of Jerusalem Open House youth traveled to CBST, and Mikie accompanied them as chairperson of the organization. Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum mentioned the group during her sermon, and the congregation’s overwhelming show of support, with 3,500 attendees clapping for the group, deeply moved Mikie. It reaffirmed to him the effect a rabbi can have in helping a community heal.
Then a few months later, in December 2009, Mikie was leading a tour of gay and lesbian rabbinical students visiting Israel from JTS—the first such cohort in the seminary’s history—when he shared with them his own dream of becoming a rabbi. A few weeks later, he received a life-changing call from Rabbi Danny Nevins, dean of JTS Rabbinical School, encouraging him to apply to study there. This invitation solidified Mikie’s resolve to pursue rabbinical training. A few months later in February 2010, Mikie traveled to New York for his interview, the timing of which coincided with the Purim holiday. Attending Purim festivities at CBST and JTS, he was struck by the joy and inclusion he experienced, which further reinforced his decision.
In August 2010, Mikie and Isi relocated to New York as Mikie began his studies at JTS. The circumstances of Isi’s reassignment to the United Nations in New York felt to Mikie like another sign that this was the right path. Initially, Isi had been slated to serve as an ambassador to Angola, but disapproval by the government there for him being an openly gay man led to his reassignment. This unexpected change allowed the couple to live together in New York, which had not been part of the original plan.
While in rabbinical school, Mikie served as a rabbinic intern at two congregations, each leaving a lasting impact on his journey. In September 2012, he joined the Town & Village Synagogue in the East Village, a neighborhood with a large LGBTQ population. Although the senior rabbi had only recently begun addressing LGBTQ issues, the congregation already had many LGBTQ members—including board members—and even Mikie’s predecessor as intern had been gay. However, the synagogue had not yet undertaken any significant initiatives to actively welcome the community, something Mikie took upon himself to change. From the outset, Mikie planned that the end of his internship the following summer would include a Pride Shabbat. He also envisioned creating an LGBTQ support group within the synagogue. Both initiatives were met with enthusiasm, and the Pride Shabbat became a regular annual tradition, continuing even after Mikie’s tenure at the synagogue ended.
In 2013, Mikie began his second rabbinic internship at CBST, which was highly desirable yet intensive. This role held deep personal significance for Mikie, given CBST’s defining place in his journey—first during his initial visit in 1995 and later as he considered rabbinical school over a decade later. His time there also shaped Mikie’s vision of how he would like to run his synagogue in the future, focusing on inclusion and acceptance.
As Mikie approached the end of his studies, he felt a clear sense of purpose: he wanted to return to Israel to serve as a rabbi. While it might have been easier and more financially secure to pursue a career as a Conservative rabbi in the United States, Mikie’s motivation had always been to reshape how Judaism is perceived and practiced in Israel, making it more inclusive and accessible. In 2013, during his final year at the seminary, Mikie applied for the rabbinic position at his synagogue in Rehovot, Congregation Adat Shalom–Emanuel, when they began their search for a new rabbi. The synagogue enthusiastically accepted him, marking a significant step in his rabbinic career.
In the summer of 2014, when Mikie was officially appointed as rabbi, several media outlets covered the milestone. The Times of Israel ran an article announcing his appointment, framing him as the “first gay rabbi” in the Masorti movement in Israel. While this was technically accurate, Mikie wrestled with the way he was publicly categorized: as “the gay rabbi” versus “a rabbi who is gay.” He wanted his pulpit to focus on inclusion for all and sought to make Judaism approachable and meaningful for everyone. Although LGBTQ activism had been a core part of his journey, Mikie did not want it to define his work in the synagogue.
One of Mikie’s most impactful projects as rabbi was the expansion of the synagogue’s bar mitzvah program. Rather than treating bar mitzvahs as isolated ceremonies, he developed a comprehensive educational experience that engaged the entire family. The program included activities such as textual study, attending Shabbat services, and a communal tefillin ceremony at the Western Wall. By emphasizing shared experiences, the program aimed to demonstrate the richness of Jewish life, regardless of participants’ level of observance. This approach proved transformative, as families often returned to the synagogue for subsequent holidays—Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Purim—even if they did not become regular members. For Mikie, these connections were a source of deep fulfillment, as they demonstrated his success in fostering a relationship with Judaism that extended beyond mere obligation.
Although the synagogue warmly accepted Mikie as their rabbi, and his work clearly advanced the goals of inclusion, he occasionally encountered subtle resistance regarding his gay identity. Early in his tenure, a board member expressed discomfort with how often Mikie mentioned his partner in sermons. While other board members disagreed with this critique, the feedback was deeply disheartening for Mikie. Similar reactions arose when he proposed that the synagogue participate in Rehovot’s Pride march. Some board members opposed the idea, fearing the congregation would be labeled “the gay shul.” Ultimately, the synagogue chose not to march under its own banner, instead joining the event under the broader “Masorti movement” umbrella.
Mikie navigated these challenges with sensitivity, adhering to his philosophy of gradual, consensus-driven change. He believed in “bringing people along” rather than pushing too aggressively. Over time, his approach yielded tangible results. LGBTQ membership at the synagogue increased, including gay couples who were drawn to Adat Shalom by the presence of an openly gay rabbi. One such couple even took on leadership roles within the community, running the youth service, and another celebrated their wedding ceremony at the synagogue.
Mikie served as the rabbi of Adat Shalom for eight years before being offered a new opportunity: to be Director of Religious Services for the Masorti movement in Israel. While he had not initially considered leaving his pulpit role, Mikie felt that this position would allow him to reach a broader audience and further promote engagement with Judaism. His new responsibilities included overseeing the Rabbinical Assembly (the association of Masorti rabbis) in Israel and managing religious services on a national scale. However, after six months in this role, Mikie was called back to his previous expertise in fundraising, accepting the position of Director of Resource Development for the Masorti movement in January 2023—a role he holds to this day.
Mikie has consistently championed the belief that change happens through calm, gradual efforts. Throughout his career, Mikie has embraced the role of a trailblazer and role model for others, particularly in Israel, where he felt there was a significant lack of representation for LGBTQ religious leaders. Whether in his early activism before rabbinical school or in his subsequent work within the Masorti movement, Mikie has dedicated himself to transforming how religion is perceived and practiced in Israel. Mikie never set out to be “the gay rabbi;” instead, he was driven by a desire to reclaim Judaism in Israel from what he saw as ultra-Orthodox domination and to empower lay people to feel a sense of ownership over their Jewish identity. Yet, he acknowledges the duality of his identity, stating: “But am I the gay rabbi, or am I a rabbi who is gay? At the end of the day, it’s both.”
(This biographical statement was written by Jason Greenspan and reviewed by Rabbi Mikie Goldstein, based on an interview taken on November 14, 2024, as well as the sources listed below.)
Sources
Kamin, Debra. “Israel's First Gay Masorti Rabbi Takes The Pulpit.” Times of Israel, 7 Sept. 2014, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-first-gay-masorti-rabbi-takes-the-pulpit. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Maltz, Judy. “Israel’s Conservative Movement Gets Its First Openly Gay Pulpit Rabbi.” Haaretz, 7 Sept. 2014, https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2014-09-07/ty-article/.premium/israel-gets-first-gay-conservative-pulpit-rabbi/0000017f-e139-d9aa-afff-f97949950000. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Biography Date: January 2025