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Prevention and Treatment of Post Trauma
Approximately one year after the establishment of Rimon Farm, Nir Amitay, the CEO of the organization, drew from his personal experiences to initiate the establishment of an additional farm dedicated to the treatment and prevention of trauma. The initial objective was to develop in Lahav Farm a therapeutic environment for ex-combats suffering from PTSD. Participation in the farm's activities allows these individuals to heal, restore their self-esteem and sense of security.
On October 7th, Liran Almosnino z”l, the manager of Lahav Farm, lost his life during the battle at Kibbutz Holit while heroically saving countless citizens. In honor of his sacrifice, Lahav Farm has been renamed in his memory, and we are committed to upholding his legacy, which embodies a deep love for the Negev and our country, as well as integrity and determination.
The events of October 7th prompted us to swiftly reassess the farm's mission, shifting our focus to provide support for the military and security personnel engaged in combat during that time. We recognized that addressing combat-related experiences in close proximity to traumatic events could prevent the onset of PTSD or mitigate its effects as soon as symptoms arise. This understanding accelerated the establishment of two farms—Lahav and Shekef—allowing us to begin welcoming groups even as the farms were being developed.
Amir Dloomy is responsible for overseeing this area. He is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Previously, Amir held the position of deputy CEO at the Elem Organization, where he gained extensive experience in developing and establishing therapeutic services, complemented by a robust clinical background.
Since the initiation of our operations at the Lahav and Shekef farms, we have hosted hundreds of combat units from various IDF divisions, as well as medical teams, emergency response units, municipal emergency response teams, police forces, and search and rescue teams. These groups participate in processing workshops that encompass discussions, agricultural activities, mind-body work, and team-building exercises within a therapeutic agricultural environment.
In addition to our work which is all based on agriculture, ecology and strengthening the Negev, the area of Post Trauma leans on an additional therapeutic principle.
In each therapeutic intervention, we incorporate elements of nature therapy and operate in an open environment, utilizing available resources to facilitate healing processes and enhance resilience.
Herding sheep, taking care of the sheep, and taking them out to the meadow, are used as an integral part of the therapeutic process. Taking caring of others, caring for animals and the ability to spend time in the open fields, while taking responsibility for leading the herd, feeding it, and bring it back to the farm, are elements that help with returning the sense of control, strengthening a sense of self worth and creating positive experiences of success. Aiding in new births of sheep and feeding the newborns, gives those visiting our farms an ability to engage in creating a new and healthy life, new feeling of life, for those have experienced trauma, loss and grief.