DECADE 8
Staff and Programs Expand as Herzl-Ner Tamid Grows

The decade began with the hiring of Ron Sandler, who served two years as Executive Director and Director of Education. Following Ron was Richard Miller, who served as Executive/Education Director from 1978 to 1984. Richard is in many of the school graduation pictures in the HNT main hall. His tenure continued to strengthen the HNT education program. Jeremy Alk was Director of Education in 1984-1985, followed by Alex Lotan, who was on staff with Administrator Donna Baruch.

Camp Solomon Schechter, which started at the Echo Lake Motel in 1956, had moved from Fort Casey on Whidbey Island (1959-1967) to Tumwater, Washington (1968-present). HNT member Sara Blumenzweig was the camp cook in 1976, and "the food she prepared was unequalled in the annals of camp history," according to camper Gordon Schaeffer. In 1985, Jacque and Sara Blumenzweig' s Bon Appetit Catering group became the exclusive caterer for official synagogue functions.

In 1978, shul secretary Pauline Kritzer (member Art Kritzer's mother) died. She had been HNT secretary for 22 years and her loss was huge. She was replaced by Barbara Hasson, and later by others. About this time the Bellevue property at the corner of NE 20th and Bellevue Way was sold, with the proceeds used to help pay for construction of the Mercer Island synagogue.

In 1980, Cantor Joseph Frankel retired and, after 31 years of service, became Cantor Emeritus. Also that year, Cantor Errol Helfman was hired, and Rabbi H. David Rose was elected Assistant Rabbi and began work while Rabbi Moshe Pomerantz was on sabbatical in Israel with his family. To raise funds for the University of Judaism, annual dinners were held. Among the honorees were Gerry and Sandra Ostroff, Dr. Robert and Gail Stagman, Paul Malakoff, Irwin and Leona Goldberg, and HNT Past Presidents.

Congregation presidents serving during this decade were Jack Farber, Ted Rosenblume, Julius Skolnick, Irving Hirsch, Alfred Adler and Dr. Ed Epstein. Lew Weiner served as Executive Director from 1979 to 1980, followed by Wally Bernstein. In 1982, a computerized billing system was adopted, a Memorial Booklet was published, the Mitzvah Corps was born, and HNT sponsored a Cambodian family. HNT members bought more Israel Bonds than all other congregations in the Seattle area combined.

In the early eighties, Sisterhood members held bake sales, rummage sales and super sales to raise money for congregation needs such as the Verasol blinds in the social hall. Women still prepared the sweets served on Friday nights following 8:00 PM services. Early 6:00 PM services were largely confined to summer months. Sisterhood programs included Hebrew, Yiddish and cooking classes, and sponsoring the Purim Seudah. Men's Club activities included bowling, game night, Lag B'Omer picnic with youth groups, Men's Club Shabbat, a Jewish film series, and sponsoring Operation Aleph, an intensive, 12 lesson Hebrew language series. With nearly 100 students attending, it was among the largest in the nation.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of HNT in 1981, past presidents of the congregation, Men's Club, Sisterhood, and youth groups were honored at a special Shabbat. There was also a Bar and Bat Mitzvah Shabbat honoring all who had completed this mitzvah. Raffles, including a $7,500 trip to Israel, were held. In 1982, a family education program developed by Cantor Frankel and member Bob Zimmerman won the prestigious Solomon Schechter Award from United Synagogue for improving and reinforcing religious school education by educating the parents of HNT students. The Silverman Machzor was replaced with The New Machzor, which we still use as our High Holiday prayer book.

1983 was a significant year. The famous author and humanitarian, Elie Weisel, was a guest speaker. HNT hosted a Jewish Film Festival-four films for $7.50. HNT member Sid Weiner helped found "Save All Ethiopian Jews" (SAEJ) and the SAEJ/Bill Halpern Ethiopian Scholarship Fund. With Jewish Agency and Jewish Federation support, SAEJ directly rescued nearly 1,000 Ethiopian Jews and, since 1991, has generated many hundreds of college scholarships for Ethiopians in Israel.

In 1984, Cantor Bradlee Kurland was hired, and 22 years later we are still blessed with his music and his enthusiasm. The HNT Waterfront Park project was begun and a Ford Thunderbird was raffled to raise funds for HNT. Improvements included a rebuilt sound system, air conditioning, and a yarzheit memorial plaque with lights built by member Al Lott. At the JNF dinner in December, HNT members funded 1,000 trees for the United Synagogue Park in Safad, Israel. HNT member Eileen Mintz was President of Pacific Northwest Region of United Synagogue.

In 1985, under the leadership of Paul Malakoff and Michael Weinstein, an HNT Endowment Fund was established with generous contributions from many, including an initial bequest from the Alfred and Tillie Shemansky Foundation. Among the early principal contributors were Fannie Feinberg, Perry and Beatrice Levinson, Michael and Elaine Weinstein, Joey and Marcia Mayo, Jay and Susan Friedman, Peter and Carol Michel, Morris Polack and family, Dr. Gilbert and Miriam Roth, Fan Coe and Dr. Don Shifrin, Paul and Jennifer Malakoff, Dr. Edward and Elaine Epstein, David and Sharron Hartman, Rabbi David and Natalie Rose, and the estates of Sol and Sadie Esfeld, Sydney L. Nelson, and John and Helen Brown Sherman. The names of all donors are displayed on individual plaques on the Tree of Life wall in the HNT foyer. The principal of the endowment fund is held in perpetuity, with the income used to support ongoing and new synagogue programs.

Other significant happenings in 1985: congregation bylaws were revised to allow wives to vote on congregation matters separately from their husbands, HNT programs included Operation Bet classes in Hebrew and a Hanukah Dance with Star Search entertainment (member Alan Bunin won the Star Search prize), Assistant Rabbi Rose departed HNT to take a pulpit in Florida, and Shawn Locke was hired as Program Director.

As the decade ended, numerous havurot were formed, providing a small group setting in which HNT members could meet for social enjoyment, education, and fellowship. The youth lounge was renovated in 1986, thanks to a generous donation by Violette Bienn in memory of her late husband, past Congregation president Al. Bienn. HNT promoted tourism to Israel and hosted programs to help members understand U.S.-Israel relations and the Refusenik situation in Russia.