ARLINGTON — Activity was subdued at the Love Israel ranch Friday morning.
Maybe it was the weather, a cool, wispy drizzle.
Maybe it was because many of the alternative religious community’s members were gone, working on a construction project in Bellevue that day.
Maybe it was that at that moment, a federal bankruptcy judge in Seattle was approving a $3.3 million sale that, barring a miracle, will force the 40 or so Israels who live there to move after almost 20 years.
The group’s longtime members have been through this before. Bankruptcy forced them to Arlington in 1984, and bankruptcy almost forced them out at least twice over the next few years.
But now, avoiding a relocation seems unlikely. The sale must be finalized by Dec. 18 to satisfy a $5.2 million debt.
Serious Israel, a longtime member, said previous moves were averted at the last minute.
"But it wasn’t quite as dramatic as this time," he said. "We hadn’t gone to foreclosure. We seem to have a lot of eleventh-hour drama."
Friday morning began, as do many days for the Israels, with a spiritual meeting at 7 a.m.
Serious Israel said the group talked about handling uncertainty.
"You’ve got to enjoy the ride, like surfing a wave," he said.
Honesty Israel, Love Israel’s wife, echoed that sentiment.
"People are kind of amazed we don’t have a sad countenance," she said. "It’s because we have faith."
Love Israel admitted, though, that the thought of moving is tough, especially for the younger people who have never known another home.
"Some of the kids were bawling and crying," he said.
Money problems have long hounded the group’s dream of a communal way of life.
The group prospered during the 1970s, aided greatly by more than $1 million in inheritance money from Daniel Gruener. The money bought homes and land on Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill.
Those good times ended in 1984 when Gruener and others left the family. They accused Love Israel of keeping too much for himself.
Gruener, formerly known as Richness Israel, sued and reached a settlement that gave him control over the Seattle properties.
Love Israel and some close family members moved to California. A small group, including Serious Israel, retreated to the Arlington property.
The group narrowly survived bankruptcy before Love Israel lined up new investors and made some money in California as a mortgage banker.
"Most of us that made the transition to here were not the moneymakers in the family," Serious Israel said. "It was kind of by grace that we didn’t get foreclosed on."
The Israels kept a low profile at first in Arlington.
Longtime Arlington resident Kay Duskin remembered how their hippie sense of style clashed with their neighbors.
"I always thought they were kind of in a time warp," Duskin said.
She said some people in town started to accept the Israels when they began allowing their teenage children to attend public schools instead of being home-schooled. Some became standout athletes.
"You’d see this whole row of 50-year-old hippies in the stands," she said.
Some have not appreciated having the Israels around.
Keith Graves has lived in the Arlington area 42 years. In the late 1980s, he started buying land that is now a 200-acre tree farm adjacent to the Israel property.
Graves said he has respect for many of the Israels but is critical of Love Israel.
"He has it all, and these other people don’t have nothing," Graves said, citing Love Israel’s frequent travels, fancy cars and posh home.
When asked about such criticism, Honesty Israel said many people over the years have lived rent-free with the family.
Graves has also been angered that the Israels built many buildings and ran their annual Garlic Festival without permits.
"Why do they have a separate set of rules than the general taxpayer?" Graves said. "And nobody ever does anything about it. That’s what’s wrong."
Kay Duskin said she hopes the Israels can stay in the area even if they have to move from the ranch.
"I’d hate to see them go," Duskin said. "I feel sorry for them. But they did it to themselves."
Graves said he is excited at the prospect of the Union for Reform Judaism building a summer camp on the property.
"I am betting everything on a very, very positive use of that land," Graves said.
The Union for Reform Judaism is a denomination that has 900 congregations in North America. The group has 12 summer camps, the closest being in Northern California.
Love Israel said he does not know where his group will go. They hope to stay until the end of the school year, but no deal has been struck. They also may move to Lake Roosevelt in Eastern Washington.
"We’re going to see this as an adventure," Love Israel said.
Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.
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