Love Israel
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Love Israel (birth name Paul Erdman) is the leader of the hippie commune commonly known as the Love Family, a spiritual intentional community that was considered a cult by its critics. The Love Family had its beginnings on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. In later years its center was on its 260-acre ranch in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Arlington, Washington. The group is currently located in Bothell, Washington.
The Love Family practiced a combination of Christianity, Judaism, Eastern Philosophy and New Age ideals.
The community was known by several names, such as the Love Family, The Church of Jesus Christ at Armageddon and the Love Israel Family.
[edit] History
Israel founded the Love Family in 1969 in a house on Armour Street on Queen Anne Hill, Seattle. It began with under 10 people and grew to over 350 members at its major downsizing in the summer of 1983. There are currently about 30 members.
For many years its main center was on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, near 6th and McGraw. There the Love Family once owned 13 homes; a natural food store named The Village Store; a 24/7/365 free restaurant, drop-in center and free hostel named The Front Door Inn; a woodworking shop; and an art showroom. The Love Family's assets shifted over the years; they had a homestead once at the head of Kachemak Bay outside Homer, Alaska, and several properties in Eastern Washington. The Eastern Washington properties included vineyards, a former do-it-yourself cannery, a horse ranch and winery. They also owned a large house outside Hilo, Hawaii for a short time in the early '80s. Frequently assets were sold once the family no longer needed them and the money would be spent elsewhere or reinvested.
People joining the community were usually given new names. Generally a Hebrew name (Eleazar, Abviathar, etc.) was chosen to distance one from one's past until there was some recognition of the virtue that person represented in the community, such as Love Israel, Patience Israel, Charity Israel, and Serious Israel. New members followed the early Christian church exhortation in Acts to "leave their old earthly identities behind."
At its height the Love Family had some regional influence, becoming part of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, and was Seattle's resident hippie commune. Brian Allen, the son of noted skeptic Steve Allen, was involved with them and was known as Logic Israel. He left in an exodus with the bulk of the members following a series of incidents where faithful members left when Love Israel refused to change his behavior. A petition was written in 1983 and signed by 29 prominent members, asking for a change. Love Israel tore up the letter.
In the early '80s, the Love Family was rocked by allegations against Love Israel, including drug use and financial and sexual improprieties. No formal charges were actually pursued against Love Israel himself, but from that point on there was a steady flow of members withdrawing. In 1984 there was an attempt to get Love Israel to share his authority with other community leaders. When he refused, 90% of the community exited. Many accusations ensued and the rejected petition marked the beginning of the end of the group's original form. A remnant of devotees remained. Some live in Bothell near Love Israel's daughter's home, while others are homesteading in Northeast Washington on his land north of Kettle Falls.
After the settlement of a suit to return property to those who had contributed years earlier, the remnants of the Love Family moved to their one remaining property outside Arlington, Washington. It was heavily mortgaged, and after struggling for several years, the group eventually sank into unavoidable debt.
After bankruptcy, the property was purchased by a Jewish organization, the Union for Reform Judaism, in late 2003 and renamed Camp Kalsman. [1] [2]
Love Israel retained a small cabin and 50 acres along the Columbia River in southwest Washington. He currently lives in Bothell, where some of the remaining members reside. There are a couple of houses in the neighborhood belonging to the group.
