Soferet (documentary)

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For other uses, see Sofer (disambiguation).

Soferet: A Special Scribe
Aviel Barclay writing a Torah scroll
Directed by	Donna and Daniel Zuckerbrot
Produced by	Donna and Daniel Zuckerbrot
Release date(s)	2005 (USA)
Running time	48 min.
Country	America
Language	English

Soferet is a 2005 documentary about Aviel Barclay, who studied to become a sofer, which is a traditionally male position transcribing Jewish Hebrew texts. The documentary explains how she overcame discrimination to become "the world’s only known, traditionally trained female scribe." ^[1] The film explores the importance of the Torah in Jewish life, the perfection required to execute a kosher Torah scroll and the uphill battle Jewish women face in gaining equality.

1 Summary
2 Reception
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Summary

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Aviel Barclay was born a church-going Christian in Prince George, Canada.^{[citation needed]} But she never felt entirely comfortable in Church and, as a young adult, began to study different religions. Judaism appealed to her, so she converted and decided to live as a traditionally-observant Orthodox Jew.^{[citation needed]}

In her new life, Aviel recalls that even as a child she became fascinated with the Hebrew alphabet after seeing Fiddler on the Roof on film.^{[citation needed]} A child inspired, she taught herself to write Hebrew letters using a calligraphy set her mother had given her. After her conversion as an adult, she returned to her childhood hobby, studying Hebrew calligraphy seriously. Soon after it dawned on her that she was meant to be a soferet, the first woman to scribe Hebrew texts.

It was challenging for Aviel Barclay to find an accomplished scribe who would let her serve as an apprentice, and even more difficult to find an Orthodox rabbi to assist to her writing a Torah scroll. The documentary reveals that despite much progress for women in the Jewish world, some restrictions remain. These restrictions raise key questions about the Torah's status as a living document, and about Judaism's ability to adapt to new demands.^[who?]

After much searching, Aviel managed to find a scribe willing to help perfect her calligraphy skills, but even he is uncomfortable with the idea of her actually writing a Torah scroll. Most Orthodox rabbis agree: "I was told by one that I would better serve the Jewish people by getting married and having children," she says.^{[cite this quote]}

Yet she still feels a passionate compulsion to continue her quest, not as an act of feminist politics but as one of personal spiritual fulfillment.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Reception

The Jewish community is divided as to whether or not a female is permitted according to Halacha to write a Torah scroll.^[1] The Talmud Gittin 45b indicates that women are prohibited from writing a Torah scroll for ritual use, as it states:

R. Hamnuna son of Rava from Pashronia taught: a sefer Torah, tefillin, and mezuzot written by an informer, an idolater, a slave, a woman, a minor, a Samaritan or an apostate are invalid, as it says (Deuteronomy 6:8-9) ‘you shall bind them [tefillin]…you shall write them [mezuzot]’. Those who fall within [the commandment to] ‘bind them’ are those who fall within [the class eligible to]‘write them.’

However there seems to be some dispute concerning the approach of the Rishonim and Acharonim as to whether they ruled women are permissible writers of the Torah based on their non-explicit disqualification of them. ^[2]

Some modern Jewish leaders argue that the consuming role of women as a mother and wife has evolved since most rabbinic law was codified. They believe that being free from the obligation to perform the mitzvah of scribing is not the same as being prohibited from performing it. ^[1]

Some people in the Jewish community are incredibly excited by Aviel Barclay's success. When she heard that Barclay had been asked to complete a Torah for Kadima, a Seattle-based Jewish community, artist Amy Golant was so excited she fell off her chair.“That these woman had the chutzpah to make this happen is so special. It adds another dimension," Golant said. ^[3]