Since the atrocities of October 7, Israel has been walking through a valley of shadows. And yet, in the heart of that darkness, something remarkable has begun to stir: the resilience of the human spirit and the quiet but determined courage to begin again.
This is not a story of tragedy, but of resolve. In times of trauma, the moral strength of a people is revealed not only in how they endure suffering, but in how they help others to heal. It is here that Jewish National Fund-USA’s partner, LOTEM, steps forward—not just to bring people with all levels of disabilities into nature, but to bring them back to themselves.
LOTEM has placed itself on the front lines of a new and painful frontier: the invisible wounds left by war. In addition to those with special needs, the organization now serves civilians and soldiers, evacuees torn from their homes and their lives, the physically injured, those enduring trauma, and increasingly, the bereaved. Among them are a group too often forgotten—siblings of those murdered on October 7.
In Jewish thought, the family is the first community. And siblings—those who grow up under the same roof, share stories, arguments, and dreams—are often our first and longest companions on life’s journey. To lose a brother or sister is to lose a part of oneself. These two-day retreats – offered by LOTEM - provide an equestrian and wilderness experience for siblings of those slain. It’s an opportunity to benefit from the healing powers of nature and quiet companionship. They participate in pairs—sister and brother, two brothers, two sisters—linked by grief, yes, but also by memory and a yearning to breathe again. Here, on horseback and under open skies, they are reminded of what it feels like simply to be alive.
They ride horses. They light fires. They whittle wood. They sleep beneath the stars. These are not acts of therapy, but rituals of return—to play, to wonder, to simply be. They speak in quiet tones, they share dark jokes, they laugh freely, they remember. And they smile. Not because the pain has passed, but because they are not alone in it.
One image stays with me: ten riders, strong and still, arriving on horseback to a mountaintop in the north of Israel. In that moment, they are not only siblings of the slain. They are the living testimony to what was lost—and to what remains: courage, compassion, and the stubborn, sacred refusal to be broken.
By the end of our time together, they tell me stories, share photos, videos, and memorial tattoos. Before they ride off, they thank me for coming and JNF-USA for helping make this possible. My time spent with them is a gift I will always cherish. This partnership between LOTEM and JNF-USA has shown how collaboration transforms society. And how, with LOTEM, JNF-USA is not only about rebuilding a land, but also the quiet mending of hearts.
Your donations to JNF-USA enable over 100,000 people to participate in LOTEM’s activities each year. LOTEM serves people with a wide range of disabilities, including physical, cognitive, sensory, communication, and mental disabilities across all levels of functioning. Because of LOTEM’s work, dozens of museums, parks, and heritage sites in Israel have become accessible, including Emek HaShalom, a 40-acre accessible farm in the North. Because of LOTEM, mothers and children in domestic violence shelters receive therapy that empowers them to reclaim their lives. Both in the everyday lives of Israelis and during their times of crisis, JNF-USA affiliate LOTEM is there to support a wide array of people. Learn more about LOTEM.
Written by Jackie Goldstein, Proud Sapphire Society Member, National WFI Executive Board, JNF-USA Board of Directors, Atlanta, WFI Steering Committee, JNF-USA Arts & Entertainment Initiatives. This is based on her first-hand account from April 2025. Horse photo – Jackie Goldstein, Sheep photo – anonymous program participant