Calling Jewish Women Artists

Community artist and Torah scribe, Shoshana Gugenheim, is seeking Jewish women artists to contribute to the creation of Women of the Book: Jewish Women Recording, Reflecting, Revisioning, a midrashic (interpretive) scroll based on the form and content of a traditional sefer Torah (Torah scroll). In the spirit of the Jewish scribal tradition, this scroll will be created on 54 sheets of parchment designed by 54 artists from around the world and sewn together as is a traditional sefer Torah.

This is an international, collaborative art installation inspired by the historic scribing of the first sefer Torah by women (womenstorah.com). Women of the Book, the midrashic Torah, is not a traditional sefer Torah, it is each artist's personal interpretation, in visual imagery, of the text of the first Five Books of Moses.

Women of all denominations, secular and religious, are invited to join. Chosen artists will select one of 54 passages in the Torah to use as a basis for their creative interpretation. They will be provided a standard-sized piece of claf (parchment) upon which to work. The 54 completed parchment panels will be bound together into one scroll, which will be exhibited in galleries, museums, synagogues and other institutions worldwide.

Interested Artists Please Send by Email:

1. five images of recent work
2. a personal résumé
3. a simple sketch of your idea (all work must be two-dimensional so as to be rolled into a scroll)
4. your first three choices of parshiot (weekly Torah portions) that you would like to interpret in your creative work (we are available to help you with this selection if this is unfamiliar to you); the following parshiot are still available:
   • Terumah
   • Metzora
   • Emor
   • Bechuotai
   • Ma'asay
   • Ki Tetzei
   • Vayelech
   • Ha'azinu
5. In one page (or more), reflect on being a Jewish woman and artist. Describe the role that Torah/Bible, historically and/or spiritually, plays in your art. (Please note: We encourage women for whom Torah/Bible has not played a significant role in your development as artists to apply.)

We are now accepting proposals on a rolling basis. Once we have selected 54 qualified artists we will close the process.

info@womenofthebook.org