Jen Taylor Friedman

Jen Taylor Friedman is a soferet (Jewish ritual scribe). On September 9, 2007, she became the first woman known to have completed a Torah scroll. Taylor Friedman's sefer Torah was commissioned by United Hebrew Congregation, a Reform temple in St. Louis, Missouri.[1]

Taylor Friedman was born in Southampton, England, and educated at Oxford.[2] While studying at Oxford, she became interested in halakha (Jewish law) and calligraphy, and by a "chance combination of happy circumstances" she met a sofer (a male scribe) who helped her realize that becoming a soferet would allow her to pursue both interests.[3] Taylor Friedman continued her scribal studies in Jerusalem and New York City, where she now resides.[2][4]

Taylor Friedman's first project as a soferet was Megillat Esther, a scroll of the Biblical Book of Esther that is traditionally read in synagogue on the holiday of Purim. She completed the project on Purim 2004 (March 6).[5] Since that time she has prepared six more megillot,[5] including one for Congregation Ansche Chesed, a synagogue on Manhattan's Upper West Side.[6] In May 2010 she completed her third Torah scroll for Congregation Dorshei Emet, the first synagogue in Canada and the third in the world to receive a Torah handwritten by a woman.[7][8]

Taylor Friedman is one of five known contemporary soferot (female scribes).[9]

Taylor Friedman is also known for her Tefillin Barbie, which has been featured in a number of prominent Jewish publications.

References

  1. ^ Jill Kassander (November 2006). "Torah Alive! is celebrated at United Hebrew". St. Louis Jewish Light. http://www.stljewishlight.com/news/287447651551753.php. Retrieved 2007-07-24. "Those associated with the project said they are not aware of any other Torah completely written by one woman." 
  2. ^ a b Leslie Bunder (2006-11-03). "Women writing Torah". Something Jewish. http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/2055_women_writing_torah.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-24. 
  3. ^ Jen Taylor Friedman. "FAQ, in detail". http://www.geniza.net/about/press.shtml. Retrieved 2007-07-24. 
  4. ^ Randi Sherman (2007-02-23). "Barbie On The Bima?". The Jewish Week. http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=13692. Retrieved 2007-07-24. 
  5. ^ a b Jen Taylor Friedman (2007-02-27). "a purim story - my first megillah". http://hatam-soferet.livejournal.com/204746.html. Retrieved 2007-07-24. 
  6. ^ "Ansche Chesed March 2006 Bulletin". Archived from the original on 2007-06-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20070606044142/http://anschechesed.org/info/bulletins/acb0603.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-24. 
  7. ^ "Female scribe to pen Reconstructionist shul’s new Torah", Canadian Jewish News, May 21, 2009.
  8. ^ "Woman scribes history-making Torah", CTV Montreal website, May 16, 2010.
  9. ^ Associated Press (2006-09-05). "Female Torah scribes begin work in St. Louis". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-02-24. http://web.archive.org/web/20070224034817/http://www.columbiatribune.com/2006/Sep/20060905News021.asp. Retrieved 2007-07-24. 

Further reading

External links