Tattoos, Capt. James Cook, MRI Scans and Jews
I will start by telling you that I have been a professional tattoo artist for twelve years and I am not Jewish. Much of what you have said in you web page is true, but much more if it is VERY misinformed. I will start with the quote from Leviticus. You and many other people have misinterpreted it to say "tattoo". This simply cannot be, because the word tattoo did not even exist until Capt. James Cook used the Polynesian word tatau wrong. What they were referring to was a ritual used by the people of the region during the cremation of a loved one, in which they would mark themselves with the ashes from the pyre. Not a tattoo in the least. Not even permanent! No culture in the region even did tattoos at the time. The doctrine has been disproved by many archaeologist of many disciplines and faiths.
As far as your point about it just not being a good idea because, like many fashion statements, it will eventually go out of style. This is true, they are permanent, although they are much better results from the removal technology these days and they don't leave a scar if they are removed by a qualified, educated dermatologist. But that is beside the point anyway. If you are getting the tattoo for fashion reasons, then you are getting it for the wrong reasons.
As far as the medical points you tried to make, they are for the most part, completely wrong. IF THEY ARE DONE BY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS, you will have none of they problems you described.
This muscle tissue damage may have been caused by some hack using an ink that contained a toxic chemical, but not done by profesionals.Tens of thousands of tattoos are applied by professionals every day in this country, and nothing like that happens from quality made tattooing inks made for the purpose of tattooing.
As far as the MRI thing, COMPLETELY NOT TRUE!!!! This one you should defiantly take back!!!! You could cause serious harm to someone if you don't!!!!!!!!!! I personally know four heavily tattooed people who have received MRIs in the last few years without any problems. Reports like this come from one misinformed rumor being passed until it snowballs. I have asked many doctors, several while actually tattooing them, about this rumor, and they ALL agree that it is untrue. Please tell the people that read your web site that this was a false statement!
As far as any other dangers, IF DONE BY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL, they are no more dangerous than a visit to the doctors office. We are regulated by the same health officials that regulate hospitals and doctors offices. My own doctor has been tattooed by me twice and has told me that he feels more comfortable in my office than he would in the offices of many of his colleagues.
So in conclusion, if you still belive that your doctrine tells you not to get tattooed, then by all means, don't, you are entitled to your belief. But please don't go around slandering the lively hood and lifestyles of millions of people. It could cause more harm than good.
Oh, and by the way, do you cut you hair, or eat leftovers, or wear any clothing made of a blended fabric(check those labels before you answer),or tell little WHITE lies, or curse(oh yes you do). All of which fall under the same rules. You can't just pick and chose the rules you want to follow can you????? Or can you?
If you would like to respond(and please do), I would love to hear from you. I am not as closed minded as you might think. I am a Native American, and understand more than you might think about religious oppression.
Dear B.,
Thanks for writing.
Here is the definition of tattoo as found in Webster's Dictionary( http://www.m-w.com
):"an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin or by production of scars."
The Hebrew term "k'thoveth qa'aqa" (which is mentioned in Leviticus 19:28) refers to scratching or piercing the skin and filling it in with pigment, i.e. a tattoo produced by the insertion of pigment under the skin(but not by production of scars). This is well known to all those who are familiar with the Hebrew language and the rabbinic literature dealing with
Leviticus 19:28.
The fact that Capt. James Cook coined the word based on a mispronunciation of the Polynesian word "tatau" is irrelevant
with regards to the correctness of my translation since the word "tattoo" has become an accepted part of the English language.
In contrast to what you claim ("No culture in the region even did tattoos at the time"),
tattoos were known to the ancient Egyptians, and there was
even a mummy found with tattoos. In any case, the traditional Jewish interpretation of Leviticus 19:28 does not need archaeological evidence to back it up.
You are not the first tattoo artist that has replied to the site ( see http://www.geocities.com/mnlerner2000/let021.html ). I agree that IF the tattoo is done
by a qualified professional using proper hygiene problems of infection are rare, but that is a big IF. I'm glad that you are "regulated by the same health officials that regulate hospitals and doctors offices," but there are places in the world where this regulation is lacking. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration has a very interesting page dealing with the risks involved in getting a tattoo (http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-204.html). Here is a quote from that page:
"Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases,such as hepatitis. The risk of infection is the reason the American Association of Blood Banks requires a one-year wait between getting a tattoo and donating blood.
It is extremely important to make sure that all tattooing equipment is clean and sterilized before use. Even if the needles are sterilized or never have been used, it is important to understand that in some cases the equipment that holds the needles cannot be sterilized reliably due to its design. In addition, the person who receives a tattoo must be sure to care for the tattooed area properly during the first week or so after the pigments are injected."
The problem with MRI scans is not a "misinformed rumor" but a documented fact! Here is
another quote from the FDA(http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-204.html):
"There have been reports of people with tattoos or permanent makeup who experienced swelling or burning in the affected areas when they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This seems to occur only rarely and apparently without lasting effects."
"There also have been reports of tattoo pigments interfering with the quality of the image. This seems to occur mainly when a person with permanent eyeliner undergoes MRI of the eyes. Mascara may produce a similar effect. The difference is that mascara is easily removable."
"The cause of these complications is uncertain. Some have theorized that they result from an interaction with the metallic components of some pigments."
"However, the risks of avoiding an MRI when your doctor has recommended one are likely to be much greater than the risks of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Instead of avoiding an MRI, individuals who have tattoos or permanent makeup should inform the radiologist or technician of this fact in order to take appropriate precautions, avoid complications, and assure the best results."
Since the FDA states that the swelling or burning occur only rarely, you can understand how
your tattooed acquaintances received MRIs in the last few years without any problems.
With regards to my "Tattoos and MRI Scans" page (http://www.geocities.com/mnlerner2000/let024.html),
the medical technician who brought up the subject wrote that
"the tattooed person can *never* have a MRI scan."
Based on the last paragraph that I quoted from the FDA web site,
it seems that she overstated her case. I will add a note regarding that on the page.
I thank you for bringing the issue up and causing me to research it more thoroughly.
I never slandered your profession or lifestyle. What's more, even if I succeed in convincing all the Jews in the world not to get tattoos, your livelihood would not be affected since Jews
make up a small percentage of the population.
At the end of your letter you bring a list of things that you think the Torah prohibits.
(I am not going to delve into the details of the list and make an already long message longer,
especially since your list deals with issues that are beyond the scope of the web site.)
Then you ask if one can choose which "rules" to observe. The answer is that one cannot
pick which rules to observe. The Jewish people took upon itself to observe the
Torah in its entirety (Exodus 24:7). And even if one falters, the gates of repentance are always open.
All the best.
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