Taylor Friedman was born in Southampton, England, and educated at Oxford.[2] While studying at Oxford, she became interested in halakha (Jewish law) and calligraphy, and by a "chance combination of happy circumstances" she met a sofer (a male scribe) who helped her realize that becoming a soferet would allow her to pursue both interests.[3] Taylor Friedman continued her scribal studies in Jerusalem and New York City, where she now resides.[2][4]
Taylor Friedman's first project as a soferet was Megillat Esther, a scroll of the BiblicalBook of Esther that is traditionally read in synagogue on the holiday of Purim. She completed the project on Purim 2004 (March 6).[5] Since that time she has prepared six more megillot,[5] including one for Congregation Ansche Chesed, a synagogue on Manhattan's Upper West Side.[6] Friedman oversaw the work of scribes involved with the Women's Torah Project, completed in 2010.[7] In May 2010 she completed her third Torah scroll for Congregation Dorshei Emet, the first synagogue in Canada and the third in the world to receive a Torah handwritten by a woman.[8][9] In 2018 she completed the first full Torah written in Texas by a woman.[10] Austin's Congregation Agudas Achim requested her to do it for them.[10][11]
Taylor Friedman is one of a small, but growing, number of soferot (female scribes).[12][13]
Taylor Friedman is also known for her Tefillin Barbie, which has been featured in a number of prominent Jewish publications.
References
^Jill Kassander (November 2006). "Torah Alive! is celebrated at United Hebrew". St. Louis Jewish Light. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-24. Those associated with the project said they are not aware of any other Torah completely written by one woman.
