"Enjoy the end just as the beginning..."

So, today's the day I leave this Oasis in the desert to embark on a new adventure, one that will continue and build upon the work, or avodah, that I've experienced here. It's been a truly magical experience – the people, the place, the spirit, the community – a kibbutz that embraces and lives Reform Judaism as a holistic lifestyle based in equity, ecology, community, and Tikkun Olam. In just two weeks, I learned so much about sustainability, beyond just the physical practices of turning off lights, conserving water, recycling, gardening, etc. Sustainability is about sustaining the world, it's creatures, and most importantly, ourselves. We're living in a world-wide village that's becoming more and more connected every single day and thus it is our inherent responsibility as world citizens to preserve and build upon our village for the future generations. If there is one thing we can do for those who succeed us, it is to leave a world for them that they too can leave for their children. As stated: “Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children” (Kenyan proverb).

Human kind began our existence as guardians of the Garden of Eden, or gardeners for short. It's been embedded in us from the getgo. It feels good to get our hands dirty, to reawaken our intuition of how the earth works. Lotan brought this forgotten intuition (that is within everyone) back to life for me. The people at Lotan also instilled in me the importance of gratitude and appreciation – it is from these feelings that we learn to care, support, love, and let go. Being thankful for something or someone naturally conjures up positive traits and mindsets that help our world-wide village go 'round. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been apart of the Lotan community and am also very thankful to those who helped make it happen, especially Loui Dobin, Alex Cicelsky, Lean Zigmond, Mike Kaplin, the URJ, and all of my friends and family for the wonderful support. All of you deserve super awesomely special gold stars :)

Lotan is a living dream of Reform Judaism, connecting the gap between people and the land. It brings intention to the connection, instilling the community in more than just sustainable practices-it teaches that the idea of sustainability is in everything, including us, just as Life is in everything and all of us. 

So the next chapter? Greening Greene in Bruceville, Texas. Get ready for a Green Revolution people :)