Kibbutz Lotan was founded in 1983 by graduates of the Reform Jewish youth movements from Israel and overseas, with the idea of creating a community based on a modern liberal approach to Judaism that strives to fulfill values of equality between the sexes, equality in work, and genuine communication between people. The kibbutz maintains a cooperative lifestyle with shared means of production and resources. During a period of community redefinition in 1995, a few dedicated members began advocating greater emphasis on environmental concern and ecology within the activities of the kibbutz. A waste management program and organic vegetable garden were established, and alternative building methods utilizing waste and sustainable materials were promoted. Lotan became a member of the European branch of the Global Ecovillage Network in 2001.

With increasing interest being generated from outside the kibbutz, Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecology was established as an expression of its Progressive Jewish orientation. Rooted in “Tikun Olam”, the Jewish concept for repairing and transforming the world, the Center expanded to include an ecological theme park, migratory bird reserve, nature trails, and an ecological education center that combines hands-on, experiential environmental education with Jewish values. The Center runs seminars, workshops and courses of varying length for adults and children of all ages, both from Israel and from overseas, with the aim of empowering participants with practical tools in order to promote positive change within their own communities. In 2000, the Center won the Shield award of the Ministry of the Environment in Israel for work in environmental education.

Development of a bird reserve in an adjacent deserted sand quarry has been made possible through partnership with the Jewish National Fund and the Israel Ornithology Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel as part of the international Birdpark Without Borders program. Currently under construction with support of the European Union’s LIFE fund is a constructed wetlands that will naturally treat all of Lotan’s wastewater via plants and will be the center of a new educational migratory birdpark.

Educational activities of the Center for Creative Ecology have included sustainability workshops for Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian youth in partnership with Friends of the Earth Middle East. The idea of combining environmental education with working towards peaceful coexistence and promoting environmental justice has also been behind Lotan’s partnership with the Bustan (Orchard) for Peace organization, which resulted in the building of a straw-bale medical clinic in the unrecognized Bedouin village Wadi El-Na’am. Lotan’s educational center has also established a successful 10-week permaculture and ecovillage design course called “Green Apprenticeship” that attracts participants from all over the world. For further details on the Center for Creative Ecology’s educational activities, see the Lotan website: www.kibbutzlotan.com.