Jewish National Fund-USA understands the immeasurable impact making society accessible has, not just on the individual with special needs but on their family and the community as well. As part of its work to ensure that no member of society is left behind, JNF-USA works with special needs populations, schools, the government, and private sectors all across Israel. The resulting programs enable children and adults with special needs the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities, visit Israeli museums and heritage sites, participate in hands-on learning experiences, and more fully integrate into Israeli society.

Through LOTEM, Jewish National Fund-USA gives 60% of the special needs schools in Israel the opportunity to participate in outdoor field trips. Trips are customized to the needs of the students, with a strong emphasis on sensory learning. LOTEM’s main site, Emek HaShalom, is a 40-acre farm located in Northern Israel. It provides a hands-on learning experience with a
teaching garden, olive press, winery, bakery, and trails suitable for wheelchairs. Activities include baking bread and seasoning it with herbs grown in LOTEM’s teaching garden and making olive oil by picking the olives and grinding them using a physically accessible olive press wheel. Off-site programs include accessible hikes, nature clubs, workshops, and more.

Please help me support JNF-USA by making a contribution for an amount meaningful to you and share this page with your family and friends. Every dollar we raise will advance this great cause! Together, we can make a difference in our Homeland!

CURRENT NEEDS
- Olive Press Roof $200,000
- Heritage Site Accessibility $50,000
- Helicopter Trip $20,000
- Women’s Shelter Outings $10,000/ per shelter
- Special Needs Class Field Trip $5,000
- In-Service Training for professionals $3,600
- Computer & Software for Every Child $1,800

Event Speakers:

Nancy Amar is an Occupational Therapist (OT) with more than 18 years of experience and whose greatest passion is working with children of all abilities. Although her name is Nancy, the children endearingly call her “Miss Mancy”, which inspired the name of her company.

Her multiple collaborations and partnerships with schools, clinics, museums, and educational institutions have made her a renowned and respected member of the Miami child development community. In addition to providing individual therapy, she designs and teaches art, STEM and movement classes for children of all abilities with the main purpose of teaching valuable life skills, while exploring empowering life lessons of compassion, oneness, acceptance, and kindness.

She leads workshops for teachers and offers classes for parents on intentional parenting.

Nancy believes that Autistic children and other developmental challenges have profound lessons to teach us, and she is passionate about advocating for their full inclusion in society. She has appeared on The Today Show and is currently writing a book entitled “I Don’t Use My Words, but I Come with a Message.” Nancy is dedicated to empower and make every child become the best version of themselves.

She recently opened a non-profit organization to provide vocational skills training to Autistic young adults and to educate the community about integration. The name of her foundation is Beyond ASD, because A-wareness S-hifts the D-efinition!

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Gaylee Schif is JNF-USA’s liaison to LOTEM, an Israeli organization making Israel accessible, which empowers children and adults with special needs across Israel through educational activities in nature and the outdoors. She was inspired to pursue work in disability inclusion by being the mother of a child who struggled with disabilities early in life.

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Raz Rutman is a highly sought-after tour guide for LOTEM, an Israeli organization focused on disability accessibility. Paralyzed in a car accident at the age of eight, Raz did his national service with LOTEM when he turned 18 and then stayed on as an employee. In 2020, his story was featured in the Jerusalem Post when he became a tour guide.