Jews and Tattoos

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?

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?

In addition, the body of Man is considered the soul's Temple and it is forbidden to disfigure or mar this temple....The bottom line is that we are not supposed to disfigure our bodies.

OK, yu2.

(Did I say that?)

This makes me wonder, re face lifts, etc...
and then moving on to emergency surgery...
Is this a present point of view, perhaps for the orthodox?
I ask out of curiousity - I surmise from my acquaintances and friends that serious surgery is not a moral problem for them, but I don't know about cosmetic surgery...

Though a biblical ban on tattooing remains in force, a contemporary rabbi probes the prohibition's limits and explores the rationale behind it.
By Rabbi Alan Lucas

This responsum (a formal response by a rabbi to a question about proper Jewish practice) by a contemporary Conservative rabbi reviews relevant precedents and arrives at a conclusion very much like those reached by Reform and Orthodox authorities as well. One additional point raised by others is that tattoos are often desired by young people whose parents object, making it a possible violation of the precept to honor one's parents. The practical question to which Rabbi Lucas is responding has three parts: Is tattooing permitted? Would having a tattoo prevent a person from taking part in synagogue rituals? Would it preclude burial in a Jewish cemetery?

Conclusion

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.

Alan B. Lucas is Rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Roslyn Heights, New York.

Reprinted with permission from Responsa 1991-2000: The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement, pp. 115-120,