Soferet (film)

Soferet (Hebrew: סופרת, meaning "woman scribe") is a 2017 documentary film directed by Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia. The film explores the world of women writing Torah scrolls, Tefillin, and Mezuzot, traditionally a profession exclusively reserved for men within Orthodox Judaism. It follows several women who are challenging this tradition and seeking to be recognized as legitimate soferet (female scribes).

The documentary examines the halakhic (Jewish law) debates surrounding the permissibility of women performing this ritual work. It also highlights the personal journeys of these women, their motivations for entering this field, and the obstacles they face from within the religious community. The film showcases the dedication and skill required to meticulously hand-write these sacred texts and raises questions about gender roles, religious authority, and evolving interpretations of Jewish law in the modern era.