Tel Aviv(a la Vida Loca): the World Renown Gay Nightlife of Tel Aviv
Israel is renown for its historic and significant religious sites, its turbulent Palestinian-Jewish and broader Arab conflicts, and its thriving and entrepreneurial startup culture. Yet, for all the geopolitical tensions and conservative religious roots, Israelis sure know how to have a good time. Tel Aviv is one of the global nightlife capitals of the world and, more recently, has become a famous gay haven not only for gay men but for broader queer-identifying folk as well.
For my required Trek reading, I chose to read My Promise Land by Ari Shavit. The book is a compelling and interesting narrative of the state of Israel, from its early foundations to its recent cultural developments. Shavit dedicates a chapter to the fast-paced, hard-partying culture of Tel Aviv. He argues that this culture is a result of the anxieties and intimidation many Israelis experience as a result of being surrounded by nations and peoples that are often hostile to its existence.
Either way, he paints the scenery of a nightclub as much more than just a place to dance. Shavit interviews several DJs and regulars of the scene so that the audience may more closely resonate with the experience. As one DJ describes, the relationship between the DJs and the crowd is a sexual one. He describes the process by which the DJ arouses and teases the crowd only to bring them to an ultimate climax on the dance floor. For many, this experience is an altogether religious one. For me, the vivid description of an event that far transcends that of just going out dancing confirmed that this was something I absolutely had to experience.
After looking online for large events that weekend and speaking to a couple of tinder matches about places to go, I found the party of all parties: Forever Tel Aviv. The massive, casino-themed rave promised thousands and thousands of gay men would be there, and that it would be the rave of all raves. The party was known to be very “Tel Aviv” which mean that it was intense, started late, and ran all night essentially. I knew that I had to check it out.
After a full day’s worth of programming, I decided to nap from around 11pm until 12:30am, so that I would have enough energy to dance. I showered, put on my romper, applied product to my hair, and called the Uber (which in Israel is really just hailing a taxi). The night had just begun. I met up with a friend in Tel Aviv who was studying abroad for the semester there, whom I had met through mutual friends, and we were off to the rave.
When we arrived, the venue did not seem like it was surrounded by very many other clubs. In fact, it felt kind of sketchy, but we continued down a dark parking lot nonetheless. Once we got closer, we could hear some music and see a short line outside. I wondered why there wasn’t a longer line or anything, but this was Tel Aviv so it was probably still too early. After paying the cover, we entered and got some drinks. A good amount of guys were already there, and the music was perfectly tuned to my tastes with lots of intense, infectious beats.
As the night wore on, the environment intensified. Next thing I noticed, the dance floor was packed to the brim with handsome, muscular, shirtless men all dancing to their heart’s content. It was like a whole different world, and, with a few drinks in, we danced on. I don’t think I can quite capture the sensation with words. Perhaps the human language is limited when it comes to such a strong sense of euphoria. But…suddenly… Ari Shavit’s explanation made perfect sense. It no longer surprised me as to why Tel Aviv had such a legendary rave scene, because it is the perfect place to let go of all your worries, your fears, your stresses, and just go wild in the most freeing and enlightening way. It is cathartic. It is a release. It is the ecstasy that the community needs after being surrounded by tragedy. I suddenly understood that this was not just a party and exactly why the nightlife of the United States just could not compare. We’re not in the same state of existential threat by our surroundings. We don’t have to let go in such an intense way. As profound as the experience was, it was also just electrifying and pleasurable. I have gone out in Buenos Aires, New York, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Paris, but none of them compare to my experience in Tel Aviv. It blows away the competition, and I understand now why it is a world renown nightlife capital and queer hub.
The club finally closed around 6am, and we moved toward the exit. I called the Uber to drive me home and said goodbye to my friend. By the time I was getting back to the hotel I could see the rays of light starting to shine out from above. A brand new day was before us. Despite being physically exhausted and sleep deprived, I felt so emotionally and spiritually refreshed, ready to take on the world and make the most of my last day of the Israel Trek. It was an unparalleled and beautiful feeling. I will most definitely return to Israel to work for an extended period of time, and you all know where you can find me: on the dance floor. Who knew you could learn so much from a night out?
