We were lucky to catch up with Limor Ness recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Limor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

The seed for The Jewish Sanctuary Kfar Saba Urban Farm was planted long before I knew it would become a formal nonprofit. I always felt a deep calling to rescue animals — it’s something that’s been with me since I was very young. I wasn’t thinking in terms of launching an organization; I was following an inner knowing — that creating a healing sanctuary for animals and people was part of my purpose. What I envisioned was a space where wellness, connection, and transformation could unfold naturally, where people and animals could come to feel safe, seen, and whole again.

Over time, what began as a small, heart-led effort grew into something much bigger. As the world around us became more complex and more people began seeking spaces for emotional healing, spiritual grounding, and meaningful connection, the sanctuary became a refuge not just for animals, but for survivors, families, children with special needs, and individuals navigating trauma. The animals, once rescued themselves, became partners in this healing journey — offering trust, calm, and unconditional presence.

Going forward, my vision is to deepen and expand this work — to create more opportunities for therapeutic experiences, to train others in the healing power of animal connection, and to build a model that can inspire and support other communities. This sanctuary is a living, breathing example of what’s possible when compassion meets purpose. My hope is to continue nurturing this space as a source of light, resilience, and hope — for every being who steps through its gates.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Limor Ness, founder of The Jewish Sanctuary Kfar Saba Urban Farm — a nonprofit therapeutic animal rescue and healing sanctuary based in Los Angeles. I’ve always had a deep, intuitive connection with animals and a strong desire to help people heal. Over the years, these two passions merged into something sacred: a sanctuary where rescued animals and humans could find connection, comfort, and restoration together.

I didn’t enter a traditional “industry” — I stepped into a calling. What began with rescuing animals and creating a safe, peaceful home for them gradually grew into a powerful therapeutic space for people. I saw firsthand how a gentle animal encounter could open a shut-down heart, how a survivor of trauma could begin to feel safe again just by brushing a goat or holding a parrot. The sanctuary became a place of transformation — not just for the animals, but for anyone who walked through the gate.

At Kfar Saba Urban Farm, we offer one-on-one animal-assisted therapy sessions, educational farm classes, school field trips, community tours, and private healing retreats for families, survivors, and children with special needs. We also design customized therapeutic experiences for individuals processing grief, trauma, or emotional challenges — including survivors of the October 7 Nova Music Festival massacre and other crisis events. Everything we offer is centered around connection — between humans, animals, nature, and spirit.

What sets us apart is our holistic, heart-led approach. Our sanctuary isn’t just a place to visit — it’s a place to belong. Every animal on the farm has a story of survival and recovery, and their presence reminds people that healing is possible. Our visitors don’t just come for a tour — they often leave with a renewed sense of hope, calm, and purpose.

I’m most proud of the moments I’ve witnessed: a non-verbal child giggling while feeding a llama, a war survivor holding a rescued bird and finally exhaling, a family grieving a loss finding laughter again during a playful farm session. These are moments of real, raw, human healing — and I’m honored to be a steward of the space where they happen.

What I want people to know is this: healing doesn’t have to be clinical or complicated. Sometimes it’s found in the nuzzle of a goat, the quiet of a garden, or the gaze of a parrot who’s learning to trust again. Our sanctuary exists to hold that space — for animals, for people, and for the sacred process of transformation. Whether you’re coming to learn, to give, to heal, or just to breathe — you are welcome here.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Beyond training and knowledge, I believe the most helpful quality for succeeding in my field is emotional presence — the ability to truly see, hear, and hold space for others. Running a therapeutic animal sanctuary isn’t just about animal care or nonprofit management; it’s about creating a safe and sacred environment where people can begin to heal. That requires deep empathy, intuition, patience, and the ability to stay centered even in the midst of others’ pain or chaos. It also means staying connected to your “why” — the purpose behind the work — so you don’t burn out or lose heart. When your work comes from love and alignment, it becomes magnetic and meaningful in ways training alone can’t teach.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining moments of resilience in my journey came after the October 7th massacre and attack on Israel, during and following the Nova Music Festival. I had already built our sanctuary to serve the special needs community and those seeking emotional healing — but that tragedy changed everything. Survivors began reaching out from around the world, many arriving in the U.S. emotionally shattered, spiritually lost, and in urgent need of a safe and supportive space.

Without a roadmap, I transformed our farm into a refuge for these survivors — offering animal-assisted therapy, hosting healing circles, and even organizing full retreats to give them space to breathe, process, and reconnect with life. It stretched every part of me — logistically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, and personally. I took on the responsibility of creating these healing spaces without waiting for funding or approval, simply because it needed to be done. But through that stretching, I witnessed the power of presence, of community, and of saying “yes” even when it feels impossible.

Resilience, to me, means being able to rise to the calling — to the moment when the universe is crying out for help, when my people really, really need support, and something sacred is being asked of us. It’s something I’ve done for years with animals — showing up, listening deeply, and helping them heal and trust again. Now, I’m simply extending that same care to people, creating a sanctuary where both animals and humans can feel safe, loved, and whole again.

My vision is to continue building a world where compassion leads, where healing is shared, and where the bond between animals and people becomes a powerful force for renewal, resilience, and peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kfarsabaurbanfarm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kfar_saba_urban_farm?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kfarsabaurbanfarm?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/6tQLlumD1e

Image Credits

Magic Pix –
https://www.instagram.com/magicpix1?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==