Lotem

Lotem (Hebrew: לֹטם, "Lotem - Nature Accessible to All") is an Israeli voluntary association (amuta) founded in 1993 with the mission of opening the door to nature for all populations in Israel, particularly people with physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental disabilities. The organization operates guided tours, workshops, nature days, vacation programs, and weekly clubs adapted to the needs of participants, and it works to expand awareness of accessibility in Israeli society. Its activities take place across northern Israel, the Jerusalem area, the Negev, the Arava, and the Eilat mountains, and it also runs the ecological educational farm "Peace Valley" (Emek HaShalom) near Nahal HaShofet. Lotem's work is grounded in the belief that every person has the right to learn and enjoy nature in an accessible and adapted manner. Its professional guiding team includes educators, therapists, female soldiers, and national service volunteers with tour-guide certification. Guiding is done in small groups (typically 8–15 participants) and incorporates unique educational tools such as Braille explanations for the blind, communication boards for autistic participants, three-dimensional models, and multi-sensory activities. The organization reaches approximately 18,000 participants annually through its various programs. Over the decades, Lotem has expanded its geographic reach and programmatic scope. It established the first accessible trail in Israel along a 1.5 km section of Nahal HaShofet (2002), opened the Lotem Jerusalem center (2011), the "Accessible to Know" visitor center (2015), the Lotem South center (2019), and a Lotem Gaza Envelope branch (2024). It also developed an accessible city model for urban accessibility training and consulting (2022). The organization collaborates with government ministries, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF), the Jewish Agency, and the Joint Distribution Committee, and it is supervised by the Israeli Ministry of Education. It is supported by government grants, private donors, foundations, and businesses. Lotem is led by founder and CEO Amos Ziv, with Einav Blum as VP of Training and Education and Sorin Hershko as chairperson. Board members and active supporters have included Reuma Weizman, Mina Zemach, and Miki Haimovich. The organization received the Shalem Fund Excellence Award in 2017 for its development of services and initiatives in the field of intellectual developmental disabilities.

Lotem was founded in 1993 as an Israeli voluntary association with the goal of enabling travelers with disabilities to have an educational, empowering, and equal nature experience. Its initial activities focused on tours in northern Israel. In 1995, the organization established the "Peace Valley" (Emek HaShalom) ecological educational farm, where experiential and accessible activities on nature, environment, and traditional agriculture take place. In 2002, Lotem made accessible a 1.5 km section of Nahal HaShofet, creating the first accessible trail in Israel that allows travelers with special needs to hike in an adapted and accessible manner. In 2011, the organization expanded its activities to the Jerusalem area, the Shephelah, and the Judean Desert with the opening of the Lotem Jerusalem Center. In 2015, the "Accessible to Know" visitor center was established, exposing groups and organizations to the importance of accessibility in various areas of life and providing basic tools for making services and content accessible. In 2017, Lotem received the Shalem Fund Excellence Award in recognition of its development of services and initiatives in the field of intellectual developmental disabilities. In 2019, the organization expanded to the south—the Negev, the Arava, and the Eilat mountains—with the Lotem South Center. In 2022, it developed an accessible city model, a training and consulting center for accessibility in urban spaces. In 2024, a Lotem branch was established in the Gaza Envelope. Throughout its history, Lotem has reached approximately 18,000 participants annually and has collaborated with government ministries, KKL-JNF, the Jewish Agency, and the Joint Distribution Committee. It is supervised by the Ministry of Education and supported by government grants, private donors, foundations, and businesses.

• 2024

  Lotem Gaza Envelope branch established.

• 2022

  Accessible city model developed for urban accessibility training and consulting.

• 2019

  Lotem South Center opened, expanding to Negev, Arava, and Eilat mountains.

• 2017

  Received Shalem Fund Excellence Award for services in intellectual developmental disabilities.

• 2015

  "Accessible to Know" visitor center established.

• 2011

  Lotem Jerusalem Center opened, expanding activities to Jerusalem, Shephelah, and Judean Desert.

• 2002

  First accessible trail in Israel opened along 1.5 km of Nahal HaShofet.

• 1995

  Peace Valley ecological educational farm established.

• 1993

  Lotem association founded; initial activities focused on tours in northern Israel.

Israel's leading organization in guiding tours and activities for people with disabilities, promoting accessibility and inclusion in nature.

• Guided accessible tours

  Adapted tours in northern Israel, Jerusalem area, and Beersheba, in small groups of 8-15 participants, using multi-sensory tools.

• Nature clubs

  Weekly nature clubs bringing nature to participants in their frameworks, combining seasons, holidays, and multi-sensory activities.

• Workshops at Peace Valley

  Workshops on ancient agriculture, including accessible winepress, olive press, threshing floor, and water systems.

• Nature days

  Day programs with games, crafts, stories, music, and competitions on various nature topics.

• Special projects

  Including 'Integration in Nature', 'Four Seasons', 'IntegraTeva', and 'Mother Earth' for diverse populations.

1. 1עמותת לטם- טבע נגיש לכולםlotem.net
2. 2עמותת לטם | עלינוlotem.net
3. 3Lotem - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4לטם - Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org