Editing Love Family (section)

== Beliefs and practices ==
The group practiced [[meditation]] (often with the use of [[hallucinogen]]ics) and believed that life was eternal and all people were one.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=LeWarne |first=Charles Pierce |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/947838037 |title=The Love Israel Family : urban commune, rural commune |date=2009 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=978-0-295-99756-8 |pages=3, 20, 25–27 |language=en |oclc=947838037}}</ref> Because life was 'eternal', the group did not observe birthdays or perform marriages.<ref name=":7" /> They placed personal revelation above traditional doctrine.<ref name=":1" /> The group was committed to living in the present – "Now is the time" was one of their mottoes – to the point that they avoided making appointments or incurring debt.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Israel |first=Serious |date=1983 |title=Bringing The Vision Down To Earth |url=http://www.context.org/iclib/ic02/isreal/ |archive-date=9 March 2016 |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Context Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309043202/http://www.context.org/iclib/ic02/isreal/ }}</ref>

Additional prohibitions including [[smoking]], owning clocks, mirrors, or watches, and reading books or magazines other than the [[Bible]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=McCall |first=Cheryl |date=2 April 1979 |title=Steve Allen's Son Brian Saw God on An Acid Trip: It Turned Him into Logic Israel : People.com |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20073299,00.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160317180527/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20073299,00.html|archive-date=2016-03-17 |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=People}}</ref> The group did not use [[driver's license]]s.<ref name=":5" />

The group ate a predominantly [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] diet that they sustained in part through [[gardening]] and [[gleaning]].<ref name=":4" />

"Love Israel" is a play on one of the fundamental affirmations of the group, "Love is real". Equally important to the remaining members are three other commonly used affirmations: "We are one", "Love is the answer", and "Now is the time".<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> These three 'fundamental belief' statements were used to stave off deeper curiosity and invoke a deeper discussion into the role of humanity on this earth.

=== Relationships ===
The community practised [[group marriage]], although Love Israel was the only husband.<ref name=":0" /> Unauthorized sexual relationships were not allowed, nor was [[birth control]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" />

=== Women ===
The group supposedly "eliminated the need for women's liberation by being righteous with each other".<ref name=":5" /> Women were expected to do housekeeping and cooking, serving the men first at meals.<ref name=":5" /> They were supposed to bow when entering a room occupied by a man and were not allowed to speak unless spoken to.<ref name=":5" />

=== Children ===
Children were raised communally with strict discipline.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Steve |date=2018-10-18 |title=Rachel's book tells her history with Israel commune |url=https://www.arlingtontimes.com/life/rachels-book-tells-her-history-with-israel-commune/ |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=Arlington Times |language=en-US}}</ref>