Israeli Author Miri Rossovsky Discusses Love, Identity, and Post-Oct 7th Literary Landscape
Israeli author and publisher Miri Rossovsky, known for her bestselling novels, has opened up about her personal life and evolving identity in a recent interview with La'Isha magazine. After two marriages and divorces, Rossovsky found herself falling in love with women in her early fifties, a period she describes as a profound personal awakening.
Rossovsky explained that her journey into relationships with women was not a sudden realization of a hidden identity but rather an expansion of her capacity to love. She met her first wife at 20, but a relationship didn't materialize until they reconnected during the pandemic. This relationship lasted three years, followed by another significant one-year relationship and shorter attempts. She noted a greater sense of openness and initiative in her relationships with women compared to men.
Her children were largely accepting of her relationships. Her adult daughters were unfazed, and her younger son, Yair, who was in twelfth grade at the time, expressed understanding and support, remarking that women are often more sensitive. Rossovsky attributes this openness to the younger generation's greater acceptance of gender identity issues.
She contrasted her relationships with men and women, highlighting a sense of inner peace, equality, and ease in relating to women. "With women, I can simply be myself," she stated. However, she acknowledged that relationships, regardless of gender, are complex, and she has learned to embrace solitude without fear.
Rossovsky also connected her personal evolution to her professional life. The period of falling in love with women coincided with significant professional achievements, including founding her publishing house, "Shtaim" (Two), completing a long-delayed book, and defending her doctoral dissertation. She feels this period allowed her to "spread her wings."
The interview also touched upon her challenging childhood, marked by her parents' separation and a prolonged legal battle over divorce, which led to estrangement from her father. She expressed regret over their broken relationship. Rossovsky's literary career began after various roles in journalism. Her publishing house, "Shtaim," co-founded with Orna Landau, revolutionized the Israeli publishing model by allowing authors to fund their own books while retaining rights and profits. The partnership dissolved after October 7th due to differing views on the role of literature during wartime, with Rossovsky emphasizing literature's social importance and Landau advocating for traditional prose.
Following the October 7th attacks, Rossovsky volunteered with victim identification efforts and later worked at the Hostages Families Forum. She initiated a writing workshop for survivors of the October 7th massacre, leading to the publication of "The Long Erased Line," a collection of essays on hope. She continues to lead "Shtaim," focusing on social projects, and is working on a new book about love between women, inspired by her personal experiences.
