Herzl-Ner Tamid (HNT) is the largest and oldest Conservative Jewish community in the Seattle Metro area.
First organized in 1906 as the Herzl Congregation in Seattle, the congregation moved to Mercer Island and merged with another group in the late 1960s along with an influx of Jewish residents to form the HNT. The members broke ground on a new synagogue on June 7, 1970. The HNT is located next to the Mercer Island Boat Launch near Barnabie Point and and the East Channel Bridge. Behind the synagogue lies a private waterfront park with a pebble beach and several outdoor grills.
Along with the neighboring Stroum Jewish Community Center, the HNT plays a vital role in Jewish cultural life on the island. Led by Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, the conservative synagogue serves as a Beit Midrash (House of Study), a Beit Knesset (gathering Place), and a Beit Tefillah (House of Prayer). It also has a dedicated youth education component, the Frankel Religious School, which teaches children grades K-8 about Jewish culture and scripture. A number of family programs and workshops teach congregants how to read Hebrew, Israeli dance and learn from the teachings of the Torah.