Episode 127: The Scribe and Her Quill
For centuries, writing a Torah scroll was a sacred task reserved for men. But a couple of decades ago, a handful of women decided to pick up the quill—without waiting for permission—and paved the way for other women to do the same. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we hear from women who write Torah scrolls and explore what it means to inscribe yourself into tradition.
To learn more about the work of the sofrot featured in this episode, and about sofrut in general, check out these resources:
Stam Scribes - Jewish Scribal Collective
Lauren Greenhall - That's How You Make A Torah (Documentary Short)
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View DetailsClockwise from top left: Shoshana Gugenheim, Julie Seltzer, Ariela Housman (credit: Alan Novik Photography), and Jen Taylor Friedman.
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View DetailsCourtesy of Shoshana Gugenheim.
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View DetailsRabbi Elyse Goldstein, left, with scribe Jen Taylor Friedman, has the honor of filling in a letter for a Torah recently completed by five female scribes, 2015. The scroll was commissioned by a synagogue in Toronto. Courtesy of Shoshana Gugenheim.
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View DetailsInk used for scribing. Courtesy of Julie Seltzer.
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View DetailsScribe and rabbi Hanna Klebansky demonstrates how to sew together sheets of parchment that make up a Torah scroll, at a Kol Haneshama synagogue in Jerusalem in 2015. The scroll was completed by five female scribes and was transported from Jerusalem to a congregation in Toronto. Shoshana Gugeinheim's teacher, Dov Laimon, is in the left foreground of the photo. Courtesy of Shoshana Gugenheim.
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View DetailsJulie Seltzer dressed as "The Whole Megillah" (Megillat Esther) for Purim.
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Tefillin Barbie.View Details
Courtesy of Jen Taylor Friedman.
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