3 December 2004 (Friday)
more on torah
As a follow-up to yesterday's post, here's some more information on Aviel Barclay and the Women's Torah Project. From the WTP website:
Maimonides (RaMBaM), the great 12th-century authority on Jewish Law, argues that the purpose of writing a Torah is to study from it; and he pardons women from the obligation of regular Torah study.This has generally been construed by later authorities to constitute a prohibition against women writing Sifrey Torah (Torah scrolls). But there is also a view held by many, within and outside Orthodoxy and the Rabbinate, that women in our time have a heightened role in the study of Torah. Indeed most Jewish women, even in the Orthodox community, are today encouraged and expected to study Torah. This could affect the import of RaMBaM's ruling.
Furthermore, some of the great authorities after RaMBaM wrote that the question of women's obligation to write is independent of their obligation to study Torah -- these mitzvot (Commandments) being given separately in the Torah itself.
Interesting...
BS"D
Shanna shalom -
Thank you for commenting on my work & linking to the Women's Torah Project site. Very much appreciated. I'd be happy to share with you whatever information, Halakhic or historic, that would interest you as to why a woman *may* not yet have written a Sefer Torah. I say "may" because altho' I've been doing research for a long time on this & with much help, I cannot conclusively claim that I am the first. Being first, however, is only important because it is a position of service, opening the door to others more easily. I suspect that the first may have been HaSoferet, a servant of King Solomon mentioned in Ezra & Nechemiyah. That being said, there is still much work & learning to do...
I have really enjoyed perusing your blog & will visit often.
Zei gezunt & have a beautiful Shabbes.
I am honored that you took the time to peruse my blog. (I'm reading yours from start to finish, but I'm only up to January and I need to go home for Shabbat in five minutes!) I would love to engage you in conversation about both halachic and historic matters surrounding this issue, either in private or through comments on my site (or yours).
Shabbat shalom!
BS"D
Terrific :)
So...your place or mine?
