Re: Jews and Tattoos
bermbits wrote:In doing some research, it appears clear that tattoos for Jews is considered a definite no-no! Cited consistently is the following verse: "You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:28).
After much thought and recalling scenes from the supposedly accurately movie A Man Called Horse, I began to wonder if the prohibition referred instead to the cutting/gashing of the flesh to mourn the dead. There are other references to this act in various cultures on various sites, so to keep Judaism "pure," perhaps this frenzied act was prohibited.
Also, I am not sure "incising" covers the act of tattooing - that that was the intent. While we may never definitively know what was intended, the interpretation has evolved to mean tattooing.
Any thoughts?
The specific reason given for not marking your body was that this was a pagan (Canaanite) mourning ritual. The pagans would slash themselves to show respect / give blood to / disfigure themselves to their death gods.
Jews were forbidden to do this.
In addition, the body of Man is considered the soul's Temple and it is forbidden to disfigure or mar this temple.
There is much discussion on this topic. For instance, the circumstances under which a woman can pierce her ears and whether it is permissible for a woman to pierce other body parts - nose and belly button, is discussed at length. Whether a man can pierce, etcetera.
The bottom line is that we are not supposed to disfigure our bodies.