Iris Rachamimov, "The Evolution of Trans History and Identity in Israel"

In this insightful podcast episode, Iris Rachamimov, a historian of modern European history and a visiting fellow at the Frankl Center at the University of Michigan, discusses her book project that chronicles the history of trans people in Israel from the establishment of the state to the present day. Iris delves into the personal stories of individual trans people, the formation of trans communities, the evolving Hebrew terminology related to gender variance, and the broader societal reactions to trans identities. She highlights the crises of masculinity in Israel, especially during the Yom Kippur War, and its impact on trans people. The episode also touches on the publication of Israel's first trans novel The Cut and the societal changes in the late 1990s and beyond. Iris emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting diverse identities, advocating for the message of liberation that trans history offers to everyone.