JustASC

The Times clocks in (years late) on Jews and tattoos. Regarding the supposed Jewish law that a tattooed Jew cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery, the paper reports:

But the edict isn’t true. The eight rabbinical scholars interviewed for this article, from institutions like the Jewish Theological Seminary and Yeshiva University, said it’s an urban legend, most likely started because a specific cemetery had a policy against tattoos.

Which is true, in and of itself, but, as a friend points out, the article leaves the overall (and erroneous) impression that minus the cemetery rumor, Jewish law is otherwise okay with tattoos. The only one quoted taking an unequivocal stand against tattoos is Rabbi Alan Bright, a spokesman for the Jewish Funeral Directors of America, who quotes Deuteronomy 4:15 “which commands Jews to take care of their bodies, as evidence.”

Otherwise,  the only other note of reproach is sounded by Rabbi Mark Washofsky, of Reform’s Hebrew Union College, and he’s equivocal on the subject:

“We don’t think it’s a very ‘Jewish’ thing to do, but we’re not really sure why.”

What’s missing is a quote from a rabbinic authority of any denomination who may or may not be sure why, but certainly considers tattoos a Jewish taboo. Someone like Rabbi Alan Lucas, who wrote a responsum on the topic for the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly:

“Regardless of the exact limits of this prohibition, over time the rabbis clearly extended the prohibition to include all [voluntary] tattooing (Tosafot commentary to BT Gittin 20b).”

Lucas’ responsum concludes:

“Tattooing is an explicit prohibition from the Torah. However, those who violate this prohibition may be buried in a Jewish cemetery and participate fully in all synagogue ritual. While no sanctions are imposed, the practice should continue to be discouraged as a violation of the Torah. At all times a Jew should remember that we are created b’tzelem Elokim. We are called upon to incorporate this understanding into all our decisions.”

There are plenty of Jewish prohibitions without sanctions, but that doesn’t make them any less taboo. If my son comes home from Israel sporting a tattoo, I’m going to blame the Times.

UPDATE: Even the most liberal denominations, Reform, regards tattoos as taboos. From a CCAR Responsum:

Conclusion. Tattooing is certainly permissible as an element of reconstructive surgery. Yet Judaism requires that our bodies be treated with honor and respect. Therefore, while we recognize the importance of personal adornment, as Jews we must pursue it in the light of the historical Jewish emphasis on the integrity and holiness of the human form. Tattooing and body-piercing, when not part of a legitimate medical procedure, are most difficult to reconcile with that emphasis. They are chavalah, pointless destruction of the human form; we do not and cannot regard them as “adornments.” Unless and until we are otherwise persuaded, we should continue to teach that Judaism forbids these practices as the negation of holiness, the pointless and unacceptable disfigurement of the human body.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 17th, 2008 at 9:35 am and is filed under JustASC. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.