HERZL'S 7th DECADE, PART II
Changing Times Lead to the Merger of Herzl and Ner Tamid Congregations to form
Herzl-Ner Tamid Congregation

While Congregation Ner Tamid flourished, Herzl Congregation continued to look for a new location. Herzl presidents during this time were Dalbert Rychter, Al Bienn, and Sid Meltzer, whose name is on the Herzl Ner-Tamid cornerstone. In 1968, Herzl USY and USJ hosted the 13th Annual Pinwheel Region Convention; property on Mercer Island was purchased the same year. Merle Cohn was instrumental in the selection and purchase of our current HNT location. With access from I-90, and the Jewish Community Center being built across the street, the hope was that the location would attract many members and meet family needs. In 1969, Moshe Pomerantz was selected as Rabbi and the Herzl building at 20th and Spruce was sold. The last wedding at the Seattle synagogue–and the first marriage for Rabbi Pomerantz–was that of Elie Halpern and Beth Weiner.

It took several years to construct the buildings that comprise HNT. Initially there was a structure in the upper parking lot that served as a temporary shul and social hall. The Sisterhood meetings were held there. During this time, the Herzl Religious School was moved briefly to the JCC and then to the Seattle Hebrew Academy and finally to a building on Rainier Avenue in Seattle. High Holiday Services were held at the Seattle Center in 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Sometime after the religious school building was constructed in 1970, the mini-shul building was sold and moved to Mercer Island’s central business area. The upper floor of the new school building was convertible, so that it could be used either as a sanctuary or as classrooms. I remember Perry Bloch's Bar Mitzvah in that space.

The Herzlgram became the HaKol when the congregations of Ner Tamid and Herzl merged in May of 1970. A gala picnic was held on the Mercer Island property to celebrate the merger. June 7, 1970, marked the ground breaking ceremony to build HNT on its present site. Gold painted shovels were used and it was a glorious day. Following the merger Dr. Abby Franklin, Lewis Weiner and Jack Farber served as congregational presidents.

1971 was a banner year as the new synagogue was erected and dedicated, due in large part to the diligent work of Lewis Weiner, building committee chairman; James Chiarelli, architect; and John and Wayne Maples, general construction contractors. Architects positioned the impressive main building in order to capture the stunning views of Lake Washington. The spectacular main sanctuary, with theater style seating for 400, faces Jerusalem to the east, and was joyously dedicated in January 1972. The sanctuary design includes a wide expanse of western windows as the source of natural light. Member Manual Lott commissioned local glass artist Steve Shahbaghlian to design a composition that would fill stained glass windows with Judaic symbols–the Twelve Tribes of Israel–and with colors of the Pacific Northwest. These colors inspired the 1988 renovation when shul colors were changed from gold and brown to mauve, blue and burgundy.

With Boeing technology, our "flying bimah" was constructed and it was moved to the back of the social hall area for the renowned Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel, who filled the house as the first guest speaker at HNT. The Sisterhood published the Make Mine Chicken Soup cookbook in 1971, and lifetime seats sold for a $500 fee. Upon that member’s death, the seat belonged to the surviving spouse for his/her lifetime.

Although member Wendy Shultz (now Spektor) had chanted Torah in 1968, in 1974 women's ritual role in the synagogue was expanded when Elaine Corets was allowed to chant the entire service at her bat mitzvah. A home was purchased for the rabbi at 4139 96th Avenue SE, Mercer Island. Cantor Frankel and his wife, Ruth, celebrated their silver anniversary, and the Frankel Library was dedicated in the space that is now the large office between the Judaica Shop and the main office. The membership approved a Fair Share dues structure. The decade ended with debate about giving women full equality of participation in synagogue ritual, and the majority of the membership was thrilled when equality was granted.