Celebrating Jewish Resilience: The Story of Female Scribes and Their Megillot

On February 9, 1767, Luna Ambron, a Jewish teenager in Rome, completed a parchment scroll of Megillat Esther, the biblical Book of Esther traditionally read during the Purim festival. This achievement placed her among a rare group of female scribes, with only about two dozen known to have existed through the mid-19th century. Accompanying her scroll was a blessing sheet, also penned by Ambron, which expressed gratitude to God for her accomplishment. The scroll, adorned with intricate decorations, is part of the exhibition “The Girl Who Wrote” at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, which highlights the contributions of women in Jewish history.

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The exhibition features not only Luna's megillah but also other significant artifacts, including a 16th-century scroll from Italy, the only other known medieval megillah copied by a woman. Curator Anna Nizza-Caplan noted the uniqueness of Luna's scroll and blessing sheet, which have survived together for over 250 years. The exhibition was set to open shortly before Purim but has faced delays due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the recent conflict involving Iran.

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Nizza-Caplan emphasized that Luna's blessing sheet provides a glimpse into her life, showcasing floral motifs and scenes from the Purim story. The scroll and blessing sheet resurfaced in 2021 after being auctioned in Jerusalem, surprising even historians like Lionella Viterbo Neppi Modona, a descendant of the Ambron family. The rarity of women acting as scribes throughout Jewish history is underscored by the fact that only about twenty women signed Jewish manuscripts from the 13th to the mid-19th centuries, with a significant number hailing from Italy.

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The exhibition also includes other documents signed by women, such as a megillah blessing sheet by Camilla de Rossi and a manuscript by Stellina, another female scribe from the 16th century. Nizza-Caplan noted that while halacha (Jewish law) prohibits women from writing Torah scrolls, the status of the Megillat Esther is less clear, as historical sources do not explicitly forbid women from copying it. This ambiguity has led to a resurgence of all-female megillah readings in contemporary Jewish practice.

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Luna Ambron belonged to the influential Ambron family, who settled in Rome after the expulsion of Jews from Spain in the late 15th century. The family was prominent in the Roman ghetto, transitioning from textile trading to banking and later to furnishing residences for clergy and dignitaries. Their legacy is documented through various artifacts, including marriage contracts and letters of appreciation from notable figures.

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Despite the challenges posed by the current geopolitical climate, Nizza-Caplan expressed hope that the exhibition would eventually open, allowing visitors to appreciate the resilience of Jewish women throughout history. The artifacts, including Luna's megillah, are poised to celebrate the contributions of female scribes from Queen Esther to contemporary figures, highlighting their enduring impact on Jewish culture and tradition.

Times of Israel

• “Luna’s inscription on the blessing sheet gives us an opening into her world,” — Anna Nizza-Caplan, Curator

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• “We postponed the exhibition for two years, and we finally had everything ready, but fate has decided otherwise,” — Anna Nizza-Caplan, Curator

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The exhibition's opening has been postponed multiple times due to ongoing conflicts, including the recent escalation involving Iran. The exact timeline for when the exhibition will open remains uncertain, as the museum is currently closed following security directives.

Times of Israel