Help! Jews with tattoos?

Question

I am considering Judaism, and I have been studying and trying to learn as much about the culture as possible. I have tried researching the issue of tattoos in the Jewish faith, but keep getting conflicting information. Plus, I know several Jewish people who have tattoos. Even Ami James, from the show Miami Ink is Jewish.

I have several tattoos, none are religious and all are sentimental to me for various reasons. They are animals, and they document my families Native American ancestry. I want to get more, but if I convert, I am afraid it would be considered sinful.

Anyone know what the Reform Judaism practitioners believe on this matter?

Answer 1

*Getting* a tattoo if you are Jewish would be forbidden.

If you are in the conversion process, you are supposed to live (with a few exceptions) under Jewish practices, so you should not get a tattoo.

But *having* a tattoo that you got earlier is as irrelevant as the fact that you used to eat pork when you were a gentile.  

Answer 2

No problem, as you got them before developing an interest in Judaism and possibly converting.

Please be aware of two things:

1 - any man converting to Judaism will have to be circumcised. I don't know about in America but in the UK, this holds true for Reform conversions also.

2 - only Orthodox conversions are acknowledged by *all* Jewish movements. I would recommend starting with the Reform conversion and then possibly, at a later date, doing further studying and working towards an Orthodox conversion.

Those caveats aside, I hope you are enjoying your studies! You might find these helpful if you haven't already discovered them:

http://www.ajewwithaview.com

http://www.askmoses.com

http://www.outreachjudaism.org/

http://www.messiahtruth.com

Answer 3

Here is what I was always taught:

In Judaism, we view our bodies as temples, getting a tattoo is like putting graffiti on the temple wall... wouldn't go over well, right?  So we don't get tattoos to respect our bodies.  

Another reason that I was always taught was that it's a sign of respect to those who suffered in the holocaust.  They were forced into getting tattooed numbers on their arms, making them "less than human." So for us to mark our bodies in any way would be like a slap in the face to them.

If you're trying to convert, I would recommend not getting anymore. But hey, that's just my opinion!

  

Good luck on your conversion!

Answer 4

I've known orthodox jews who had tatoos. They chose to wear long sleeves to cover them but the tattoos aren't inherently problematic for a convert or a returnee to the religion.

Answer 5

I'm Reform and it's not a problem with us.  Obviously more traditional Judaism is different--however, you aren't held accountable under Jewish law for things done *before* conversion in any event.

Answer 6

You cant compare Ami James to lets say Sacha Baron Cohen. They are two different people. Ami i am guessing is a Secular Jew and may not be observant. Sacha Baron Cohen for example is an Observant Jew. You can have a Secular Jew to represent Judaism as a whole on this issue. But in Judaism, all sins are forgotten and you past life has changed. You are a new person, You get a Hebrew name, new religion, and more knowledge. Most of my students remove their tattoos before conversion but in my congregation where there are a sizeable amount of converts, there are many who have tattoos. Reform Judaism would most likely allow tattoos, but because Reform Judaism allows followers to have more choices, it is almost certain that you will be accepted with tattoos.