Ra’anana became the first city in Israel to have an openly gay mayor on Sunday, when Eitan Ginzburg completed his first full day of work on the job.

Ginzburg, 41, has been on the Ra’anana city council for 15 years, including most of the past six years as a paid deputy mayor. He was elected by the city council to take over as mayor when veteran Ra’anana mayor Ze’ev Bielski left to head the National Housing Authority.

“I feel there is significance that another glass ceiling was shattered, showing the progress in Israeli society,” Ginzburg told The Jerusalem Post late Sunday night, after a 14-hour first day on the job.

What made the promotion even more special for Ginzburg was that he was chosen for his qualifications and experience by a consensus on the city council that included councilmen who are Orthodox.”

“It felt normal because I was chosen because of my work,” Ginzburg said. “I am happy the fact that I am gay did not stop me from getting elected with the support of the Bayit Yehudi. I was chosen not because I am gay and not in spite of it, but because of the work I have done.”

Ginzburg has been in a relationship with his partner Yotam for 15 years. Together, they recently had a twin son and daughter named Itai and Emma through a surrogate mother in Portland, Oregon. He said he did not realize at first how rare he was in the world. Read more via Jerusalem Post