Gender Support

Aleph Melbourne offers a safe and inclusive environment for people in the Jewish community who are gender diverse.

If you are transgender, gender-fluid, gender questioning, gender neutral or gender queer, then you are welcome here.

TRANSform: An Australian Longitudinal Gender Health Study

TRANSform is an ongoing survey designed to investigate the health and wellbeing experiences of the Australian trans community. This includes all individuals aged 16 years and above with a non-binary and/or binary gender that is different to what was presumed for them at birth.

TRANSform: Enrolment Survey

Transgender & Gender Diversity support team

If you need to speak with someone who has undergone gender transition, or want to find out more about gender identity, gender expression, non-binary gender, or a related issue, we have a gender support team available for you to contact.

The profile and contact details of each member of our team are listed below. We invite you to contact them with your enquiries. Alternatively, you are welcome to use our main contact page. All contact will be handled in strict confidence.

Jordie Slonim

March 2022

Hi. I’m Jordie. I am queer, trans and gender queer. My pronouns are they/ them. I am a Kinesiologist and a Kinesiology teacher. I am also a photographer, a dancer, a choreographer, a creator, a writer and an activist.

I have been out, as queer since the mid 90’s. I had interactions with non-binary and trans folks who were Kinesiology students and clients, but I did not have awareness about my own gender journey until I first saw Transparent at the beginning of 2019. I watched all four seasons in four days and then rewatched it all again, more slowly. I had never seen my experience reflected as a Jewish person as authentically as in this show, and my eyes, my soul was opened to so much, in regards to my own identity.

Gender queer was completely aligned for me, and I began following other trans and non-binary folk on social media, seeking, searching for this ambient sense of belonging.

It took me about six months to change my pronouns to they/them. I lost my best friend, in part because of this. Many people fell away from my life, and other friendships solidified in authentic connection. It wasn’t until a few months ago, in November of 2021, with the help of kinesiology sessions, that I now fully own and am in love with my transness.

0420-649-611 / jordie@aleph.org.au
Location: Melbourne

Marcie Civins (parent)

March 2021

I am the proud mum of two awesome kids. My youngest came out as gay at age 8, and as non-binary at age 9, and my eldest came out as bisexual at age 11, and non-binary at age 12. We are learning every day about negotiating both primary and secondary school spaces, and at times educating the educators. I am starting an inclusion group for kids of all ages, who identify as LGBTIQA+, and for their friends and family members who identify as allies. I am loving finding the great books and music that are being produced by LGBTIQA+ people and allies, that are allowing my kids to see themselves represented in the wider world. I welcome anyone who would like to talk to make contact with me.

0405-667-477 / marcie@aleph.org.au
Location: Melbourne

Kochava Lilit

August 2019

Kochava Lilit is a Jewish non-binary bisexual activist who uses they/them pronouns. Since coming out as transgender in high school they’ve advocacted for queer and trans rights and supported other queer and trans people and their families. Kochava volunteers at Ygender, a peer support and advocacy collective for trans youth. They’re also autistic and ADHD and always happy to talk about what it’s like to be neurodivergent, disabled, queer, and Jewish.

kochava@aleph.org.au
Location: Melbourne

Alex Linker

March 2019

Alex came out as trans in their Modern Orthodox Jewish high school. Since then, Alex has been a passionate and outspoken advocate for trans rights, particularly within the Jewish community, with a particular interest in helping Jewish trans youth. They identify as trans masculine and non-binary. Alex would like to offer an ear for anyone dealing with gender/trans issues and their families.

0424-869-645 / alex@aleph.org.au
Location: Sydney

Susie & Dudi (parents)

August 2016

We were a young couple in Israel in the early eighties. Dudi was barely out of the army and I was visiting from Melbourne where I was born and schooled at Mount Scopus College. We returned to Australia, married, worked in our own business and had three glorious children.
Life was unremarkable in that we faced the usual challenges and daily grind, until our youngest child, aged 14 and assigned female at birth, came out and identified as male.
This was undeniably extremely difficult to process and come to terms with. It was 2011 and the environment seemed more hostile and secretive regarding Transgender and gender diverse phenomenon. We felt isolated and unique in our situation and highly inequipped. So too were the schools, counsellors, doctors etc. All sectors were unconfident and somewhat struggling.
Fast forward to 2016 and today Dudi and I have come far and beyond in every facet. We are happy to share our journey and offer any nugget that can help parents avoid, face and overcome the hurdles that are inevitable and that we experienced and continue to address.

0404-912-400 / susie@aleph.org.au (Susie)
0418-877-800 / dudi@aleph.org.au (Dudi)
Location: Melbourne

Elizabeth Syber

August 2015

Hi my name is Elizabeth Shoshana Syber. I live as a transgendered female, having transitioned five years ago. I grew up in the Adelaide. I attended the Liberal Synagogue there and was active in Ichud Habonim, and AUJS. I moved to Melbourne 31 years ago. I have been married and have three children. Whilst married I attended Beit Haroah at Mizrachi and was an active parent for many years with the Yavneh Parents group assisting their fetes. Recently my partner and I have attended Leo Baeck and have been warmly welcomed. I no longer have contact with my children. I have been an antiques dealer for these 31 years and have recently become a member of the peak body of Antique dealers in Australia, the Australian Antique and art dealers Association. As an active participant in the transgender and Jewish communities I have a broad range of experiences to offer people who need support about services and networking, or just a friendly ear.

0418-552-553 / elizabeth@aleph.org.au
Location: Melbourne

General resources

Jewish / Religious resources

If you would like to suggest a resource to list here or would like to feature as a support contact on this page, please get in touch.