Love Israel was a cult in the Cascade Mountains in northern Washington. Despite its name, it practiced a combination of Christianity and New Age ideals on its rural commune.

History

Paul Erdman, a former California real estate agent, founded Love Israel in 1969. It once numbered 300 members with colonies in Alaska and Hawaii as well as Washington. [1] He changed his name to Love Israel and encouraged its members to do the same, becoming "the children of [Love] Israel." Such names as Patience Israel, Chastity Israel, and Serious Israel emerged.

The group settled in 1984 on the current site of their commune, 60 miles north of Seattle in Snohomish County. At their height they had some local influence and the son of noted skeptic Steve Allen was associated with them.

In the mid-1980s they were rocked by allegations of drugs and sexual impropriety of their leader. No formal charges seem to have occurred, but several members left soon after. They also had a series of failed business efforts despite the fact they initially rejected money and refused to touch dollar bills. These failed business included a bistro and a woodmill. Due to bankruptcy, the cult sold its spiritual center to a Jewish organization in late 2003.[2] They then moved to the Canadian border and at last report had fewer than 50 members.

Camp Kalsman

In 2003 the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) purchased the 300 acre commune from the Love Israel group with the intention of turning it into the organization's 13th Summer camp. With a sizable donation from Mark and Peachy Levy, the site will open named in honor of Mrs. Levy's parents, in the Summer of 2007

For more information, see URJ Camp Kalsman.