Desert Snake
Veteran Member
I know that some more liberal Jews get tattoos, some don't. I was wondering what the Orthodox position on tattoos is, is it more strict than say, keeping kosher, etc.
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Othodox stance on tattoos
- Thread starter Desert Snake
- Start date
Levite
Higher and Higher
The word קעקע as used in Vayikra 19:28 probably originally meant brands, of the type used to mark criminals or, in some neighboring cultures, as mementi mori (marks made in the flesh to remember the dead), and indeed, the verse begins by saying that what is being referred to is שרט לנפש, which is to say, "marks for the dead." Our Rabbis, in the Talmud, use the verse as a prooftext for prohibiting certain kinds of tattoos, also.
What the halachah originally prohibited was marks in the flesh dedicated to the worship of foreign gods, or which replicated one of our own divine names of God which we customarily do not write or say except in prayer or sacred books.
Over time, however, the custom grew universal in Jewish communities to not make any voluntary marks in our flesh at all, whether tattoos or brands or scarification, or anything else. Some rabbis cited the Rabbinic commandments not to harm oneself, as well; or cited prohibitions about practicing the ways of idol worshippers; or other various customs or halachot as support for the strengthening of this custom.
In Orthodox Judaism, the halachic maxim minhag yisrael k'halachah hee is commonly understood to mean that any custom practiced in a Jewish community for a long enough period takes on the force of halachah for that community; and any custom practiced in a plurality of Jewish communities for a long enough period takes on the force of halachah for everyone.
Therefore, Orthodox Judaism completely forbids getting tattoos voluntarily. Obviously, the prohibition does not apply to tattoos not gotten voluntarily, like those forced upon inmates of the concentration camps in the Shoah. Nor does it require the removal by converts of tattoos acquired before conversion. But it is an absolute blanket prohibition for all Jews, according to Orthodox understandings of halachah.
What the halachah originally prohibited was marks in the flesh dedicated to the worship of foreign gods, or which replicated one of our own divine names of God which we customarily do not write or say except in prayer or sacred books.
Over time, however, the custom grew universal in Jewish communities to not make any voluntary marks in our flesh at all, whether tattoos or brands or scarification, or anything else. Some rabbis cited the Rabbinic commandments not to harm oneself, as well; or cited prohibitions about practicing the ways of idol worshippers; or other various customs or halachot as support for the strengthening of this custom.
In Orthodox Judaism, the halachic maxim minhag yisrael k'halachah hee is commonly understood to mean that any custom practiced in a Jewish community for a long enough period takes on the force of halachah for that community; and any custom practiced in a plurality of Jewish communities for a long enough period takes on the force of halachah for everyone.
Therefore, Orthodox Judaism completely forbids getting tattoos voluntarily. Obviously, the prohibition does not apply to tattoos not gotten voluntarily, like those forced upon inmates of the concentration camps in the Shoah. Nor does it require the removal by converts of tattoos acquired before conversion. But it is an absolute blanket prohibition for all Jews, according to Orthodox understandings of halachah.
Desert Snake
Veteran Member
Thanks for answering, that is a concise explanation.
Last edited:
Wherenextcolumbus
Well-Known Member
I'm guessing this applies to piercings as well?
Levite
Higher and Higher
Ashkenazi Orthodoxy has consistently prohibited men from getting any kind of piercing; women have generally been prohibited from anything more than earrings. However, in the Sefardi and Mizrachi Orthodox communities, women are also usually permitted nose rings, and sometimes navel piercings, and men have occasionally been permitted earrings.
Generally speaking, though, all Orthodox communities understand body modification of any kind to be prohibited.