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This section explores the halakhot of women's participation in the preparation of ritual objects.  Women have always prepared certain ritual objects, such as matza, but certain ritual objects - whether because of women's exemption from specific commandments or because of societal taboos - were not traditionally prepared by women.  Today's greater involvement of women in ritual and the level of education of women spur questions and discussion of how women can be more involved in preparing our ritual objects.



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JOFA Recommends




Singer, Ross
"Women and Safrut: Can a Woman be a Scribe," Singer, Ross. JOFA Journal, VI:1, Winter, 2006, 4-6.

Synopsis: R. Singer gives an overview of the halakha on whether or not women can act as scribes, carefully dividing the different categories of writings and detailing under what circumstances it may be possible for women to write each type of scroll.

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Article

Friedman, Jen Taylor
"Women's Eligibility to Write Sifrei Torah," Friedman, Jen Taylor. Meorot, 6:2, Marheshvan 5768.

Synopsis: The author explores the topic of women writing sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzot, as found in the talmudic and post-talmudic halakhic canon. The question of a woman's eligibility to write a sefer Torah is discussed in detail, and a path of reasoning is described that would permit a woman to write a sefer Torah for use in the public Torah reading.

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Gugenheim, Shoshana
"Women Writing a Sefer Torah," Gugenheim, Shoshana. Sh'ma, 2000.

Synopsis: Gugenheim writes about the benefits of women's participation in the collective, unifying commandment of scribing a sefer Torah.

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Linzer, Dov
"Response to Women's Eligibility to Write Sifrei Torah," Linzer, Dov. Meorot, 6:2, Marheshvan 5768.

Synopsis: R. Linzer presents a critique of Soferet Jen Taylor Friedman's article (referenced on this page).

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Singer, Ross
"Women and Writing the Megillah," Singer, Ross. The Edah Journal, 4:2, 2004.

Synopsis: This paper outlines the theoretical possibilities for women to serve as scribes (sofrot) as presented in the classical talmudic and post-talmudic literature. Particular attention is paid to the literature addressing the validity of women to scribe Megillat Esther. It concludes that the majority of authorities and the weight of halakhic reasoning point towards considering women eligible to write Megillot Esther.

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