Being a Good Jew
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 00:23:05 EST
Subject: tattoos
To: [email protected]
Hi my name is S., I am a Reform Jew in the Philadelphia area. Before
getting my tattoo I did much research on tattoos finding out that our
ancestors all the way back to Moses had Tattoos, After leaving Egypt, many
people inscribed signs, stories,etc. on their body to remind them of what
happened in Egypt. My tattoo to me is a very part of my life it speaks a lot
about me and what is important to me. The four my history, what my grandparents
did to fight the nazis, to live through the hebrew letters which are on
the sun are the first letters of my four family sir names. The circle, which
is the base of the sun, as known to Jews is very important, it is a reminder
of family, and all those close who are in my personal circle of life. The
Jewish star is something that I look at every day reminding me of who I am
not religiously but as a person , a people, mass killings in Russia during
Stalin's time, all these things make up the Jewish man I am. My strong yearning
to learn, to treat every one equally, to share with those who are less
fortunate, all this is very important to me, and my tattoo as I am sure your
Star of David which might be around your neck reminds you. And for anyone to
tell me I am not a good Jew because of this, I feel must really focus on
their beliefs and respect mine. I just got back from a trip in Mexico over
winter break. While their I met a Orthodox person. we discussed the tattoo. He
personally like you did not believe in marking my body, but he understood
were I was coming from. I think your web site is all wrong. I for one did not
get a tattoo to impress you, others, or to fit in, I did it for me, it is
something I will live with my whole life. It is for me and no one else. If
people see it which they do a lot and comment how nice it is I appreciate the
comment and it makes me feel good, but that is not why I got it. I do not
mean to come off so strong. But I would like to talk about this sometime with
you.
Please E mail me back.
Sincerely,
S.
-If you would like to see a picture of it please tell me and I will get one
made.
p.s.-attached is a rough sketch of what it looks like, however those are not
the colors I used.
Hi S.,
Thanks for your feedback. I do not know what your sources are that claim
that our ancestors had tattoos. In any case the prohibition against tattoos is
quite clear from the Torah, Mishnah, Talmud, Shulchan Aruch, and all early
and late Rabbinnic authorities.
The purpose of the web site is not, G-d forbid, to say that anyone
who has a tattoo is a bad Jew. The purpose is to let Jews know that
tattoos are against Jewish law.
Peace unto you.
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