ComMunity
Spirituality
Woman
Valor
The new Mikvah Israel will commemorate the memory of Joanne
Zuroif shown with her husbands Dr. Arnold Zurojf
SUSAN TAWIL
Special to the Jewish News
T
0N
2/4
2000
60
he new community mikva
will be dedicated to the
memory of Joanne (Zahava
bas Mordechai) Zuroff, the
late wife of endodontist Dr. Arnold
ZUroff of Southfield.
Mrs. Zuroff, 56, was the loving
mother of five children and 11 grand-
children, and -a great believer in giving
back to the community through
activism in charitable organizations.
Before her death from cancer in
1998, she was actively involved in
many communal organizations. They
included P'tach, Chabad's Children of
Chernobyl, Women's Orthodox
League, Yidgal, Amit Women, Bar-
Ilan University and the Jewish Home
for the Aged.
"It was widely felt that memorializ-
ing Joanne Zuroff in this way would
be a wonderful endeavor for the com-
munity and the Zuroff family," said
Gary Torgow, who is involved in the
effort to build Mikvah Israel in Oak
Park. "Joanne was one of Detroit's
most special women, whose example
of an Aishet Chayil (Woman of Valor)
was evident every day in her life."
Although Mrs. Zuroff was raised
secular, she always had an affinity for
Judaism, said Arnold Zuroff. "When I
was in graduate school in Pittsburgh
in 1967, we met Orthodox families
and changed around. It was an evolv-
ing process, but she was persistent in
her observance and led the family.
New Mikvah Israel building will be
dedicated to the memory ofJoanne Zuro
"She believed that Taharat
HaMishpacha [family purity] was the
essence. If you practiced that and
believed in it, everything else would
follow."
Her "guiding light," as he put it, in
her observance of the laws of mikva
and family purity, was Rabbi Norman
Lamm's book, A Hedge of Roses, as well
as her close friendships with Susan
Levitin, Shaindy Freedman, Miral
Simcha and other members of
Detroit's Orthodox community from
whom she took direction.
"She had a real reverence for
Taharat HaMishpacha," said Dr.
Michael Zuroff of his mother.
Daughter-in-law Miriam Zuroff
remembered how Mrs. Zuroff "talked
to me before my marriage about what
a special mitzvah it was — how she
loved going to mikva."
"The mikva is the holiest thing in a
community," said son Rabbi Raffle
Zuroff of Cincinnati. With this
mikva's dedication in her memory, he
added, "her grandchildren can look
back and see what was important to
her."
Observance of the laws of family
purity is one of the three special
mitzvot given to women; the other
two are lighting Shabbat candles and
separating challa dough.
Although Arnold Zuroff viewed the
mikva dedication as "the opportunity
of a lifetime," his decision to go
through with it did not come easily. A
philanthropic man, he was concerned
that this investment would sap dollars
years with the Southfield-based Milton
from other organizations he supports.
Roberts Construction Co. He is a
He told of his discussion with
member of the Mikvah Israel building
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah's -Rabbi
committee.
Avraham. Cohen, who was in his office
Located in the area of 10 Mile and
undergoing root canal surgery at the
Greenfield
roads, the building in Oak
time.
Park meets the most particular stan-
"I asked him what I should do,
dards of halacha, design and quality
because I knew the halacha [Jewish
workmanship.
law] that it's better to give one dollar
"People across the country are corn-
to 100 places than $100 to one place
ing here to see it as a model for future
[hence, doing more mitzvot]. He got
mikva construction," said Yitzchok
up out of the chair, took the instru-
Friedman, Mikvah Israel treasurer. "It's
ments out of his mouth, and told me
really state of the art."
that this was an exception, because the
The community's current mikva,
number of mitzvahs — the holiest of
built in 1962, is showing its age.
mitzvahs --- which would be per-
The building has become increasing-
formed as a result [of supporting the
ly expensive to maintain and oper-
new mikva], would be worth it.
ate. For example, water bills now
."'I could still support the other
average $5,000 annually because of
organizations,' he said, 'just on a lesser
the way the mikva was constructed,
scale.' I called that day and said,
explained Reuven Moskowitz,
`Okay,'" Zuroff concluded.
Mikvah Israel recording secretary.
The dedication in memory of
The new mikva will be more cost-
Joanne Zuroff is a family project. Her
efficient by utilizing a filtered rain
family members want to contribute in
collection system combined with an
order to "share in the merit."
underground water reservoir draw-
For Zuroff, it will be "a very close,
ing clear, clean water from a 160-
personal thing to have her name there.
foot drilled well.
It will complete the
k BR
This
natural opera-
closure process."
tion
will
significant-
Construction of
ly
lower
the
water
the $1.6 million
bills.
mikva is well under
More importantly,
way. The walls are
Generous donation allows
the new facility will
standing and the
accommodate the
roof is up.
mikva to spring from the
growing number of
Everything is
ideals
of
following
the
laws
area women who
"right on schedule,"
observe the laws of
said Burton Cohen,
of family purity.
family purity.
a contractor for 25
4, RI
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