By Ella Will, For the Reporter

When the conservative Jewish synagogue Herzl-Ner Tamid (HNT) was vandalized last November, the community was devastated.

The FBI became involved in the investigation over the anti-Israel messages that were spray-painted on the building.

“It was almost beyond comprehension. HNT is where we congregate as friends, it is where we pray, and it is our house of peace. It is our sanctuary, so this was a personal violation of our home. The initial reaction from the congregation was, ‘This should not be happening to us,’” said HNT President Mickey Friedman.

To see photos of the vandalism online was one thing, but to view it in person was to think, “How could somebody do this?” Friedman said.

Immediately after they found out, HNT made communication their top priority. They told the congregation what happened and confirmed that nobody was hurt and that they would repair any damages. Outpourings of support came from Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, neighbors and social media.

“Jewish organizations across the region were contacting us, and people not even on Mercer Island were asking how they could help, which was all very reassuring and felt good,” Friedman said.

Friedman said the vandalism was an isolated incident and that the physical and mental health of the HNT community is stronger than ever. HNT cleaned up the vandalism before Shabbat, and the Rabbi’s sermon that Friday night garnered nearly triple the regular attendance. Many of the people who came weren’t synagogue members, and some weren’t even Jewish.

“We walked away from it stronger within a couple of days because of all the people who came to support us and help rebuild. We were able to move on, and it did not affect how we run our world,” Friedman said.

As for the extent of the repairs, HNT is still deciding how far to go. The main building for the synagogue is more than 50 years old, so there is always work taking place. HNT has enhanced overall security for the synagogue, including bringing on more armed guards. Friedman said some community members have come forward with extra donations, but the synagogue has not done any special fundraising yet.

This spring, HNT is hosting its annual Gadol Gala, a fundraising event to support the synagogue. In English, the word “gadol” most directly translates to “great” or “big,” two words that perfectly describe the event, Friedman said. The Gala will take place off-site and include an auction and the annual Bob Zimmerman Award for Leadership, awarded to Ephrem and Linda Krisher for their contributions to the community.

“What contributed to our mental recovery the most was knowing we had friends. Jewish leaders throughout the country reached out to us for support, but the support from the Mercer Island community was even more heartwarming. A whole group from a church came to services one night, and I received messages from many residents, Jewish and non-Jewish. People have said they want to contribute to the cleanup and repairs, but we haven’t decided what we need help with yet,” Friedman said.