Kibbutz Lotan is a young community situated in the Arava Desert in the south of Israel. We are far away from urban Israel in a quiet area in beautiful desert surroundings.

Lotan was established in 1983 by graduates of the Reform Jewish youth movements from Israel and overseas. We came together to create 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. Lotan’s population is equally divided between native-born Israelis and immigrants from all over the world. Hebrew is the commonly used language but English is also spoken. Our economy is based on date plantations, dairy, tourism, holistic health center, field crops, mariculture and various professions held by members who work outside of the kibbutz. Presently we number 50 adult members and 50 children.

Kibbutz Lotan maintains a co-operative lifestyle in which means of production and resources are shared. We are members of the “Co-operative Stream” in the Kibbutz Movement.

During a period of community redefinition in 1995, a few dedicated members began advocating greater emphasis on environmental concern and ecology as an expression of Lotan’s Progressive Jewish orientation.

Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecology is rooted in “Tikun Olam” -- the Jewish concept for repairing and transforming the world. The Center started as a dream and vision. It began with a small desert organic garden, and expanded to include an ecological theme park, migratory bird reserve and nature trails. Each project helps us evaluate new directions we wish to pursue. It now includes alternative building construction within the Kibbutz and in the region and the establishment of a unique desert ecological education center that combines hands-on, experiential environmental education in creative recycling, organic gardening and alternative building techniques with Jewish values within the framework of a living community making progress towards sustainability. In 2000, Lotan received the Ministry of the Environment’s Shield award for work in environmental education. Lotan is a member of the European branch of the Global Eco-villages Network and in 2006 received the award for ecovillage excellence.

Kibbutz Lotan's Center for Creative Ecology offers a 10 week ecovillage and permaculture design course called Green Apprenticeship. The program links together a number of useful practical skills while helping to build and maintain our environmental education center, alternative/natural building projects and the migratory bird reserve.

Every practical experience in the Green Apprenticeship course is reinforced by formal studies, a holistic link to permaculture ideas, and an opportunity for participants to share their ideas and past experiences to influence our projects. The activities are designed with the belief that an individual can bring these ideas to their own homes and communities. Graduates receive an internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate at the end of the course.

Kibbutz Lotan is also actively seeking new members, particularly single people and couples between the ages of 25-35, who wish to become partners in turning our vision to reality.