PHOTO BY JOHN M. DISCHER
Holy Dunking
Converts, brides and grooms dip in Temple Israel's
miwah, the only Reform ritual bath in the United
States.
LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER
T
hey come when they are
ready to become Jewish.
And increasingly, they come
for a dip before they get
married.
They are Reform Jews, redis-
covering the mitzvah of mikvah
(ritual bath).
Temple Israel's mikvah, built
in 1994-95, is the only Reform rit-
ual bath in the United States.
While Reform Judaism does not
dictate that congregants dip in the
mikvah, Temple Israel is seeing
an increasing number of Reform
Jews use the mikvah for ritual
purposes, such as before a wed-
ding, according to Rabbi Harold
S. Loss.
In 1996, Temple Israel rabbis
performed 45 conversions to Ju-
r —
I
daism, and all the converts went
to the mikvah.
The number of people not af-
filiated with Temple Israel who
use its mikvah for conversion
brings the total to about 60 con-
versions per year, says Rabbi
Loss.
On a regular basis, brides and
grooms are choosing to take a clip
before their weddings, he says.
However, the temple does not Temple Israel's mikvah: Used for
conversions, and by brides and grooms.
keep track of the numbers.
Why the growing interest in
make that choice have done
the tradition of mikvah before some reading, have done some
marriage?
studying, have learned about the
"I would guess that we're all tradition and have made the de-
looking for ways to increase the cision that it would perhaps be
sanctity of special moments in a lovely act for themselves prior
our lives," Rabbi Loss says. to their marriage. It's something
"Those brides and grooms who
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Rabbi Loss says the Reform
temple "was always graciously
welcomed" to the mikvah at
Beth Achim, but non-Orthodox
rabbis have never been allowed
to use Orthodox mikvaot for con-
versions or other purposes.
Temple Israel's mikvah is
across from the Hodari Library
and its extensive computer learn-
ing center. The close placement of
the modern with the ancient "is
what Reform Judaism is all
about," Rabbi Loss says. 'There is
not a symbol within Jewish life
that is not available for Reform
Jews to choose to use."
Rabbi Loss says he doesn't
know of any congregants who
use Temple Israel's mikvah to
follow taharas rnishpachah, the
laws of family purity.
But the Reform temple has
been using a mikvah to perform
conversions for more than two
decades. Building one of their
own is a "public affirmation" of
the usage of mikvah as a mean-
ingful symbol of Jewish life, the
rabbi says. ❑
that people have thought about,
considered and made a decision
to have as a part of their life."
But the majority of visits to
the mikvah have to do with con-
version. Rabbi Loss says it is
open to the community, regard-
less of denomination.
When deciding to build the
mikvah, Temple Israel officials
were aiming for a "very inviting
place," tastefully designed and
invitingly warm. The temple
takes religious school children
to see the mikvah, Rabbi Loss
says, so they will be comfortable
with the concept.
The mikvah was built ac-
cording to Halachah (Jewish
law), supervised by Rabbi
Charles Rosenzweig of the Holo-
caust Memorial Center. Free-
falling rain water is piped in
from outside and mixed with
fresh water.
The Conservative Congrega-
tion Beth Achim in Southfield
has a mikvah, used primarily for
conversions. Detroit also has two
Orthodox mikvaot — Congrega-
tion Mikvah Israel in Oak Park
and the mikvah at the Sara Tug-
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