BS"D
BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
Thursday August 19th
Where is the Talmud reference to women being obligated in all positive non time bound mitzvot? This supports females acting as sofrot of Sifrei Torah. I *MUST* FIND THIS!
R' Dave was later helping me with his Bar Ilan CD to find some sources...Qitzur Pisqey HaRosh for one - a book written in the name of Rabbeynu Asher by his son, the Tur. Both Rishonim & both open to women writing.
I returned to West Side Judaica to drool over the seforim I couldn't afford.
I headed to A-1 Sofrei Stam on the Lower East Side - I was *so* nervous going in there. & Of course I had to get buzzed in. Not like in Israel where one can waltz in (unless one is female). What met my eyes was astounding. 2 older men, dressed in black & white like their Torahs, were peering over their beards at their work. They were helpful, in their disregard of my presence :) they didn't seem to care that I was there or not, which actually gave me a modicum of privacy to peer at thier establishment without being molested by their being attentive. They were both friendly, in their gruff Olde Country way. Occasioanlly one would shout to the other a question in Yiddish, which I barely understood, like, "Itzik, I don't like the way you made this Tzadi - come look at what you did!" I got a real kick out of them in their terribly messy business, not unlike my own workspace, nor unlike *my* sofer's studio...
There were shelves crammed with all manner of tools & materials, & every square inch of horizontal work space was taken up by piles of partially-finished projects, drawers overflowing with tefilin straps like a child fat black crayon scribbles & jumbles of gid wildly dancing over the flat & rapelling down the sides of the crowded furniture.
They chiefly buy old Sifrei to refurbish there, then re-sell them once they're kosher again. Alon even makes their own rollers!
They were very busy, but did answer all my questions about their business, services & supplies. I thanksed them heartily, took a couple of business cards, & wished them a good Shabbes.
I was exhausted! It gets SO HOT here! I completely ran out of energy, it all having been sweat out of my pores, so even theough there was a bunch of other cool stuff I wanted to do while on the Lower East Side for only the second time in my life (like check out the Eldridge St shul & scope out the shtieblakh), I just stumbled back to the subway :(
Chatted with Shuli & then later Rachel over the phone as I lazed & recovered on the patio, enclosed in the city brick & withdrawing from the hot, tired world of my Self.
My thoughts have been moving further in the direction of self-denial, contemplation, serving others. In previous blogues, I have sometimes considered, sometimes fretted over, why people don't understand me, what they take me for, how they will think of me. But all that energy of mine (& I have plenty, thank G@d) would be better spent in further prayer, additional work, retreat & service.
Netivat Sofrut: diary of a Soferet
Adventures of a female sofer learning to heal the world by doing Holy Work...writing a Sefer Torah
נחזיר את השכינה למקומה בצייון ובתבל כלה
"Let us restore the Divine In-Dwelling to Her Place in Zion & infuse Her spirit throughout the whole inhabited world."
So wherever we are, let us bring the Peace of G@d's Presence.
About Me
- Name: Soferet
- Location: Vancouver/London, British Columbia/UK, Canada
SCRIBAL EVANGELIST As the only living certified Soferet (סופרת - female Jewish ritual scribe) & the first woman to practice sofrut (creation of sacred Hebrew texts) in over 200 years, I feel an obligation to blog about my experiences of The Work. I am also currently researching the foundation of a lost tradtion of women practicing this holy craft. For more on the services I provide, please see Soferet.com; Sofrut Nation. I am now available to engage with students, male or female, wishing to enter into the preliminary stage of learning sofrut. You are welcome to join me on this path. "Tzedeq, tzedeq tir'dof - Justice, justice you shall pursue." Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:20.
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Filmography
1. "Soferet: A Special Scribe" (2005)
2. Feature documentary on Jewish Renewal (2006) (post-production)
3. "Write for Yourselves" (2007) (post-production)
4. Documentary on Jewish Feminism (2008) (pre-production)
Frequently Asked Questions
- My web site
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- Appearances
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Sofrut - ס×פר×ת - Sacred texts
- Megillat Esther Scroll column 1
- Esther Scroll columns 1 & 2
- Esther Scroll columns 3 & 4
- Esther Scroll column 17
- Esther Scroll column 17 & 18
- Mezuzah Scroll (back & front)
- Echad - G@d's Oneness
- Sefer Torah text
- Genesis to Exodus
- A Single Word
- Parshat Vayechi
Qame'ot ve-Segulot - ק××¢×ת ×ס××××ת - Amulets
- 3 Angels childbirth amulet
- Circle Birth amulet
- Meditation Shield
- Fire Amulet
- Tree of Life Star
- Hamsa Amulet
- Meforash Y-H-V-H
- Grid Amulet
- Creation Meditation Circle
Ketubot - ×ת×××ת - Wedding Contracts
- Cherry Tree Ketubah
- Cosmos Ketubah
- Persian Ketubah Border
- Bukharan
- Celtic Rings
- Twined Trees
- Planetary
Mezuzah Batim - Scroll Cases
- Shin Mezuzah Case
- Sh@dai Mezuzah Case
- Gold & Silver leafed Mezuzah Cases
Judaica - Jewish Art
- Alef
- B'reyshit - In the Beginning
- Outside B'reyshit
- Inside B'reyshit
- Hashkiveynu
- Rainbow
- Rosh Chodesh-New Moon
- Klingon Hebrew!
- Aishet Chayil
- Cursive Hebrew
- Avinu Malkeynu
- Shir Ha-Shirim/Song of Solomon
Israel
- B'nai B'rith Canada
- Canada-Israel Committee
- Canada-Israel Experience
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- Jewish Students Canada
- UIA FederationsCanada
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Blogroll
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- Mirty's Place: the journey & beyond
- Mis Dakdek
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- Modern Orthodox Woman
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- Moshav HaAm
- Moving to Hawai'i
- Mystical Politics
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4 Non-Blogs
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...plus one:
- Women's Sofrut Certification
Media Centre
- Jewish Women's Archive, week 40
Koleinu - Oct 97,
Jewish Western Bulletin â July 03/August 03/September 03,
Jewish Transcript â September 03,
Jewish Western Bulletin â October 10 03/October 17 03,
Moment Magazine - October 2003,
Jewish Western Bulletin â November 03/December 03,
The Globe And Mail â December 03,
Vancouver Indy Media â February 04,
Hadassah Magazine - May 04,
Lilith Magazine â Summer 04,
Jewish News Weekly of Northern California â February 05,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency â February 05,
Jewish Telegraph, UK â February 05,
Canadian Jewish News â July 05,
The Jewish Forward - June 05,
Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles - July 05,
Religious Tolerance Magazine - Oct 05,
The Jewish Independent - November 05,
Lilith Magazine â Autumn 05,
JOFA Magazine - Feb 06,
Hadassah Magazine - March 2006,
Jewish Virtual Library
The Jewish Review - July 06
My Sordid Past
- BS"D
THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS
Wednesday, August ...
- BS"D
THE DRISHA IS MY *HERO*!
Tuesday, August 1...
- BS"D
SOME GROWN-UPS ARE JUST CHILDREN ANGRY AT G@...
- BS"D
WHAT DO I WANT TO ACHIEVE?
Monday, August ...
- BS"D
MOTLEY GANGS OF RAVENOUS MOSQUITOS FREQUENTI...
- BS"D
RAR
Shabat, August 13th
The laid-back ease ...
- BS"D
HELLO WORLD!
Friday, August 12th
"Expanding...
- BS"D
WHAT DOES THE ECHO OF CHESED SOUND LIKE?
Th...
- BS"D
STUMBLING LETTERS
Wednesday, August 11th
Wr...
- BS"D
COLLEAGUES?
Tuesday, August 10th
The big ad...
* All of the content of this web site, including text, photographs, etc & any other original work, is © copyrighted & all international rights reserved by A. Barclay, including the "soferet 4-branched shin logo" (TM). Want to license content from me? Just ask. I can be very reasonable. Especially if you pay me.
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Filmography
1. "Soferet: A Special Scribe" (2005)
2. Feature documentary on Jewish Renewal (2006) (post-production)
3. "Write for Yourselves" (2007) (post-production)
4. Documentary on Jewish Feminism (2008) (pre-production)
![](http://www.jewschool.com/shmirathalashon.gif)
Frequently Asked Questions
- My web site
- My credentials
- What's my story?
- Appearances
- 10 FAQs
- Upcoming Events! (updated)
- Women and Sofrut
- My Take on Fame
- Buy the T-shirt!
- What do my students say?
- Free Mezuzah Check!
- Blog Policy
- MySpace Blog
- MySpace Profile
- Flickr Profile
- Shop for Sofrut?
- Megillat Esther Scroll column 1
- Esther Scroll columns 1 & 2
- Esther Scroll columns 3 & 4
- Esther Scroll column 17
- Esther Scroll column 17 & 18
- Mezuzah Scroll (back & front)
- Echad - G@d's Oneness
- Sefer Torah text
- Genesis to Exodus
- A Single Word
- Parshat Vayechi
Qame'ot ve-Segulot - ק××¢×ת ×ס××××ת - Amulets
- 3 Angels childbirth amulet
- Circle Birth amulet
- Meditation Shield
- Fire Amulet
- Tree of Life Star
- Hamsa Amulet
- Meforash Y-H-V-H
- Grid Amulet
- Creation Meditation Circle
Ketubot - ×ת×××ת - Wedding Contracts
- Cherry Tree Ketubah
- Cosmos Ketubah
- Persian Ketubah Border
- Bukharan
- Celtic Rings
- Twined Trees
- Planetary
Mezuzah Batim - Scroll Cases
- Shin Mezuzah Case
- Sh@dai Mezuzah Case
- Gold & Silver leafed Mezuzah Cases
Judaica - Jewish Art
- Alef
- B'reyshit - In the Beginning
- Outside B'reyshit
- Inside B'reyshit
- Hashkiveynu
- Rainbow
- Rosh Chodesh-New Moon
- Klingon Hebrew!
- Aishet Chayil
- Cursive Hebrew
- Avinu Malkeynu
- Shir Ha-Shirim/Song of Solomon
Israel
- B'nai B'rith Canada
- Canada-Israel Committee
- Canada-Israel Experience
- Canadian Jewish Congress
- Jewish Students Canada
- UIA FederationsCanada
Feed – Subscribe to soferet's photos
Blogroll
- A Jewish Soul
- Al Ha veDa ×¢× ×× ×××
- Another Country
- An Unsealed Room
- Bloghead
- Brainsite
- Byroniverse
- Chayyei Sarah
- Customerservant.com
- Danya Ruttenberg!
- Devarim
- Ecclesia Gnostica in Nova Albion
- Epichorus
- Heeb 'n' Vegan
- House of Joy
- In LA: to Life!
- Israelity
- Jerusalem Syndrome
- Jewlicious
- -=JeW*SCHooL=-
- JOFA Development
- Kosher Vancouver ModBlog
- Kadima
- Kaphtziel
- Kesher Talk
- Kisui Rosh
- Little Green Footballs
- Lulei Demistafina
- Matzat
- Mayim Rabim
- Mirty's Place: the journey & beyond
- Mis Dakdek
- Morey Altman
- Modern Orthodox Woman
- Mordechai Pinchas, Sofer
- Moshav HaAm
- Moving to Hawai'i
- Mystical Politics
- On the Fringe - Al Tzitzit
- On the Main Line
- Orthodox Anarchist
- Orthomom
- Picture My World
- Picture Shula!
- Pocket Change
- Quicksilver ×ספ×ת
- Renegade Rebbetzin
- Ruth's Megillah
- Seeking Grace
- SixThirteen
- Sofrut Nation
- The Kosher Blog
- The Rabbi's Kid
- Thoughts from a Rabbi
- Treppenwitz
- Urban Wild
- Velveteen Rabbi
- Wilderness Maggid
4 Non-Blogs
- Midreshet Berot bat Ayin
- Nishmat
- Pardes
- Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo
...plus one:- Women's Sofrut Certification
Media Centre
- Jewish Women's Archive, week 40
Koleinu - Oct 97, Jewish Western Bulletin â July 03/August 03/September 03, Jewish Transcript â September 03, Jewish Western Bulletin â October 10 03/October 17 03, Moment Magazine - October 2003, Jewish Western Bulletin â November 03/December 03, The Globe And Mail â December 03, Vancouver Indy Media â February 04, Hadassah Magazine - May 04, Lilith Magazine â Summer 04, Jewish News Weekly of Northern California â February 05, Jewish Telegraphic Agency â February 05, Jewish Telegraph, UK â February 05, Canadian Jewish News â July 05, The Jewish Forward - June 05, Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles - July 05, Religious Tolerance Magazine - Oct 05, The Jewish Independent - November 05, Lilith Magazine â Autumn 05, JOFA Magazine - Feb 06, Hadassah Magazine - March 2006, Jewish Virtual Library The Jewish Review - July 06
My Sordid Past
- BS"D THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS Wednesday, August ...
- BS"D THE DRISHA IS MY *HERO*! Tuesday, August 1...
- BS"D SOME GROWN-UPS ARE JUST CHILDREN ANGRY AT G@...
- BS"D WHAT DO I WANT TO ACHIEVE? Monday, August ...
- BS"D MOTLEY GANGS OF RAVENOUS MOSQUITOS FREQUENTI...
- BS"D RAR Shabat, August 13th The laid-back ease ...
- BS"D HELLO WORLD! Friday, August 12th "Expanding...
- BS"D WHAT DOES THE ECHO OF CHESED SOUND LIKE? Th...
- BS"D STUMBLING LETTERS Wednesday, August 11th Wr...
- BS"D COLLEAGUES? Tuesday, August 10th The big ad...
* All of the content of this web site, including text, photographs, etc & any other original work, is © copyrighted & all international rights reserved by A. Barclay, including the "soferet 4-branched shin logo" (TM). Want to license content from me? Just ask. I can be very reasonable. Especially if you pay me.
More blogs about
Torah, Judaism,
Israel & Feminism.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
www.flickr.com
|
Pictures of my Work
Sofrut - ס×פר×ת - Sacred texts
Hits Since March 2, 2005!
I only endorse the ads on this site which reflect a traditional Torah-centred life
Free Counter
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lasik,
Jewish Bloggers
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4 Comments:
I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's Brachot 20b. I know for sure that that's where we learn that women and men are equally obligated in achilat matza and zachor Shabbat (saying Kiddush), and I'm pretty sure that flows from the discussion about postive/negative and time-bound/non-time-bound mitzvot.
BS"D
Wow, thank you, Shanna! Yup, that's where it is, alright :)
Reading both the Mishnah & the Gemara on this is another reminder that much of our rabbinic law has been a process. That often it will say, "...if you say 'a', then the logical conclusion is 'b'; but if you say that 'c', then your conclusion must be 'd'..."
So from such conversations come different traditions/practice/minhagim which spead all over the Jewish world. & as "traditionally Torah observant" has been gaining an ever-narrowing definition, we are losing much of the "wiggle-room" we once had, closing the doors on so many other rich, valid customs which have long made up the beautiful mosaic of Jewish life. It's very sad, I think.
But barukh HaShem that G@d is more tolerant than *people*!
:D
Shavu'ah tov.
That baraita doesn't support women writing sifrei Torah, unfortunately. You'd think it does, but see for instance Tosafot to Gittin 45b, and Tos Rid, the Ritva, Ran, and Korban Natanel there. I've actually just realised this post was dated August, you probably found those already. Would you care for chevruta?
http://www.livejournal.com/users/blackherring/
BS"D
Sure - altho' I am already studying in person & via e-mail with rabbis & sofrim, I welcome any learning. Sorry it's taken me so long to respond to this post - I've been quite ill. But barukh haShem am better now, so will pursue your offer.
Oh, & yes, I'm aware of that baraita. There's so much information to collect & analyze...
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