JEWS &
TATTOOS Nearly 4 in 10 Americans ages 22–37 have a tattoo (Pew Research Center). Many Reform Jews are among them— such as Rabbi Marshal Klaven (shown here), who deepened his Jewish commitment by inking his body. Other young Jews have made thoughtful Jewish decisions not to be tattooed (see p. 33). The permissibility of tattooing in Judaism has been a matter of debate. In the biblical period, tattoos marking affiliation to the people of Israel and ⁄or the God of Israel were generally acceptable (see page 34). In talmudic times as well, the intended reason for the tattoo was the determining factor; the rabbis opposed tattooing “for the purposes of idolatry” (Tosefta Makkot 4:15). Today,
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4/30/14 2:37 PM