W hen it’ s finally built in the coming years, many who drive by the Lasher Road Mikvah in Southfield will, in all probabil- ity, have no idea what it is or why it’ s there. But for members of the nearby Modern Orthodox community — already enticing newcomers with kosher food options, vibrant synagogue life and Jewish day schools — the presence of a mikvah (ritual bath) will fill in “the critical miss- ing piece” for those considering a move, according to Cherie Levi, pres- ident and building committee chair for the group planning the construction. In keeping with the Jewish laws of family purity, observant women must immerse them- selves in the mikvah to end a monthly time of separation between a husband and wife — from the onset of menstrua- tion and for seven days after its end — during which time they refrain from physical intimacy. The immersion process is con- sidered a mitzvah. The Southfield Orthodox community is anchored by the Young Israel of Southfield (YIS) synagogue. For about 20 years, members of YIS operat- ed a mikvah inside the former Congregation Beth Achim building on 12 Mile Road in Southfield, continuing after what is now Farber Hebrew Day School moved into the facility. When the mikvah was demolished in 2017 for con- struction of Farber’ s new build- ing, the 50 women who had been using it were left without a nearby mikvah. Since the dem- olition, the women have made a nearly 4.5-mile trek by foot to Mikvah Israel in Oak Park, the next-closest mikvah. That has created new difficulties for the community. “Because immersion takes place after sundown, on Shabbat or Yom Tov when she may not drive, it would require the woman to walk in the dark, ” Levi said. “In the summer, nightfall is so late she would be walking home after midnight. In the winter, it is very cold to walk over an hour with wet hair. “The only other options are to wait, which is contrary to Jewish law, or to stay with a family in Oak Park for mikvah night, which really detracts from important elements of confidentiality, modesty and, most importantly, the oppor- tunity for a married couple to re-unify following the days of imposed separation prior to immersion. ” Levi added that the mikvah is especially important for women trying to conceive. INFLUX OF YOUNG FAMILIES In the past five years, 36 families have moved to the Orthodox neighborhood at Lahser and 11 Mile, recruited by YIS members who have attend- ed the recurring Orthodox Union’ s International Jewish Community Home and Job Relocation Fair in New York. Through a campaign spearheaded by Dr. Howard and Michal Korman and Ari and Monica Fischman, all of Southfield, newcomers are helped with welcoming incen- tives, including loans, jobs and home location assistance. The cost of living, easy commute, active Modern Orthodox syn- agogue and nearby Jewish day schools are attractive to many families from out of state. But the lack of a convenient mikvah is a struggle. “The mik- vah is a fundamental prerequi- site to a community and really should take place before build- ing a synagogue, ” Fischman said. In fact, according to Chabad. org, “Jewish law states that both a synagogue and a Torah scroll may be sold to raise funds for construction of a mikvah. ” “The growth we have seen has been without having one, and I would only assume with one our growth will continue — and possibly at an even faster rate, ” Fischman said. “I know of people who have visited here, looking for a place to move, ” said Southfield res- ident Hunny Khodorkovsky, whose husband, Daniel, is mikvah fundraising committee chair. “But when they hear we Group works to attract Orthodox families to the Southfi eld area with a new mikvah. 22 | MARCH 19 • 2020 The Missing Piece Jews in the D SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Architectural design of the proposed mikvah Cherie Levi LAHSER ROAD MIKVAH LLC continued on page 24 000_DJN031920_JD Lashser Road Mikvah.indd 22 000_DJN031920_JD Lashser Road Mikvah.indd 22 3/16/20 2:13 PM 3/16/20 2:13 PM