On October 15,2010, the Women’s Torah Project, the joint work of 6 sofrot – 6 female Torah scribes – from all over the world, was brought together and completed for the Kadima Reconstructionist congregation in Seattle, Washington. Below, a short video tells the story of this wonderful project.
Women’s Torah from Sasha Perry on Vimeo.
The full story of the Women’s Torah project can be found at http://www.womenstorah.com/. On their website is the following poem to mark the culmination of this wonderful achievement:
The Torah Completed by Women
Together we worked,
Embellished it all,
Together, we wove, many pieces;
Embellished it all,
Together, we wove, many pieces;
Together we joined,
The parchment — each line,
Accurately, singing its praises;
The parchment — each line,
Accurately, singing its praises;
That moment in time,
His-tory was changed,
By her work, which was honored and cherished;
His-tory was changed,
By her work, which was honored and cherished;
To set a new stride,
Carried forward by one,
Whose insight was never daunting;
Carried forward by one,
Whose insight was never daunting;
That beautiful sight,
Not fathomed before,
Was ordered by deep emotion;
Not fathomed before,
Was ordered by deep emotion;
And witnessed by many,
Like on Mt. Sinai,
Proclaimed — by the spirit, there, present;
Like on Mt. Sinai,
Proclaimed — by the spirit, there, present;
A dream that was high,
We knew its dear meaning,
Much more, than just fulfilling;
We knew its dear meaning,
Much more, than just fulfilling;
With love and affection;
The pinnacle reached:
The contract with G-d — Unbroken!
The pinnacle reached:
The contract with G-d — Unbroken!
So let it be told —
In words very Bold —
The Torah — Completed — by Women!
by I. Penn, Oct. 2010
Sisters of the Torah Siyyum Oct 13 – 17, 2010
Seattle, Washington, USA
In words very Bold —
The Torah — Completed — by Women!
by I. Penn, Oct. 2010
Sisters of the Torah Siyyum Oct 13 – 17, 2010
Seattle, Washington, USA
Kol hakavod! What a wonderful achievement!
Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz (with thanks to Judith Lessler at B’nai Israel for sharing this)
