House of Love and Prayer (San Francisco, Calif.)

The House of Love and Prayer was founded in 1967 in San Francisco, California as a Jewish center that combined Hasidic Judaism with the prevailing counter-cultural trends of the 1960s and 1970s. The center was created by followers of Lubavitch emissaries Shlomo Carlebach and Zalman Schachter. Those Jewish baby boomers who became followers of the House of Love and Prayer are sometimes referred to as "Hassidic Hippies." They found in the center a place where they could combine their love of traditional Judaism with their active participation in the counter culture. Some followers of the House of Love and Prayer lived communally in the center's house and others simply participated in activities and events on a regular basis. The center also offered a free hostel to visitors. The House of Love and Prayer inspired its followers to experiment with Jewish religious practice, Jewish dress, Jewish ritual garments, Jewish music, and Jewish food by combining Jewish tradition with hippie tastes and practices. So, traditional Jewish dress might be combined with Indian colors and fabrics to create a distinctive look. Jewish dietary laws might be strictly followed but preference given to vegetarian and macrobiotic foods over traditional Eastern European Jewish foods.

From the description of House of Love and Prayer miscellany, 1968-1977. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 681974201