Your Body is a Wonderland
“In my flesh, I see God” (Job, 19:26)
Tzafon 2010
Jews and Tattoos/You Pierced Your What?!?
Sh’elah/Halachik question:
What Does Judaism say about making permanent markings on the body?
Goals:


Through concepts of K’dushat Haguf/Shmirat Haguf (Holiness of
Body/Guarding the Body), USYers will view the body as a holy site, not
one with which we can “play.”
Through various texts exploring Judaism and the body and an activity,
USYers will explore the Jewish prohibition against tattooing and
unnecessary piercing (piercing not for adornment or beauty) as a
violation of the sacredness of the human body as a site of godliness.
Materials
Pages 3-5 of “Tattooing” pdf
A few copies of Images of Jewish tattoos (included in this doc)
Step 1- Set Induction/grab their interest
Ask: How many of you have ever sent an email, posted a message or texted
something that was totally embarrassing, that you really regretted or that you
wished you could have taken back?
What about anything non-electronic that you did or said and couldn’t take
back…the damage was already done and was permanent?
How does it feel to do something that is permanent and then really regret it?
[hopefully, you’ll get a majority response. If not, then great! But this isn’t
common, let them know that most people have done something they wished
they could take back but couldn’t]
Step 2: Integrate opener with core concept
Explain:
We’ve all done something with permanent consequences that we really
regretted. It seemed okay in the moment, impulsive, a reaction, an action we
thought would get us attention we seek. But then, after the fact, we wish we
could take it back but have to live with it.
We tend to do this specifically with words but also with our bodies. Can you
think of any examples of how we do this with our bodies…make a split second
decision that lasts forever or leaves painful scars as a reminder?
Your Body is a Wonderland
“In my flesh, I see God” (Job, 19:26)
Tzafon 2010
Examples: Sexually, drinking, drugs, drunk driving, piercing, skating or biking
without safety equipment, tattooing, etc.
Hopefully, someone will say tattooing or body piercing but if not, mention
some of the above examples.
Teenagers are especially infamous for making split decisions when it comes to
their bodies. Why?
Continue: You may say “well, it’s my body, I can do whatever I want!” or
“What is so bad with tattooing and body piercing? You can close up a piercing
or have a tattoo surgically removed, right?” WRONG. Even with time and
surgery, scars remain and the body has still been violated.
Find out any pre-conceived notions or knowledge they may have already:i.e.
it’s not allowed, you can’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery and other common
conceptions.
Do you think that tattooing is allowed in Jewish Law? What about un-necessary
(like not for beauty as ear piercings are) piercing? Many people understand
that Jews cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery if they are tattooed. Many
Jews believe that this is explanation behind the tattooing prohibition but
there’s more to it than just where you’ll be laid to rest.
Why are there prohibitions (both parental and Jewish) against making
permanent, unnecessary marks on your body?
Step 3: Introduce Concept
K’dushat Haguf/Shmirat Haguf
EXPLAIN: You may have heard the phrase (from the book of Genesis), B’Tzelem
Elohim- that all people are “made in God’s Image.” There is another text that
reflects this from the book of Job (pronounced Jobe): “In my flesh, I see God”
(Job, 19:26).
What do you think B’Tzelem Elohim and the Job text really mean? How is the
body a site through which we “see God,” a site of holiness? How does this apply
to making markings upon it?
Judaism tells us that we should regard our bodies as holy (Kdushat Haguf) and
be careful to guard our bodies (Shmirat Haguf). Where does this come from?
Step 4: Read texts and Tshuva in concentric circles.
NOTES ON TEXTS:
1. Page 3 is the text on tattooing, pages s 4-5 deal with body piercing
Your Body is a Wonderland
“In my flesh, I see God” (Job, 19:26)
Tzafon 2010
2. When you get to the text from Rabbi Alan Lucas, explain that this is from a
Conservative responsa (a T’shuva or response to a specific Halachik question)
on tattoos and body piercing.
3. You won’t have time to go through all the texts (because you want to get to
the activity) so choose which ones you feel are most significant or interesting
and get them to read those ones.
Have the USYers make 2 circles, an inside one and an outside one, facing each
other so that each person faces a partner. Hand out the text sheets.
Ask them to read text 1 and discuss:
1. What it is saying
2. What they think it means
3. Any questions they may have as to why it doesn’t make sense.
Now, ask the inside circle to move one person over to the right or left and
read/discuss the second text (repeat the process for all texts or until you feel
they get the general idea).
Then after the final text or when they’ve had enough of a chance to engage
with the text (be aware of time), reassemble as a group and ask for their
responses, opinions, questions. Other sample questions:
 Which texts would you challenge?
 Which do you agree with? Which texts best explain the rationale behind
Shimrat Haguf and K’dushat Haguf?
 General ideas expressed by the Jewish text and Conservative Tshuva and
their opinions on it. How doe they feel about what they read/discussed
and if the concepts of Kdushat Haguf/Shmirat Haguf are well argued
through these texts.
Step 5: Activity
Explain: We’ve read about the Jewish prohibition against Tattooing and body
piercing and how Kdushat and Shmirat Haguf are explained through traditional
texts. Check out these images [pass these images around the room].
Why would someone choose to do this?
What do you think about these? Do Jewish tattoos as expressions of Jewish
pride become exemptions to the prohibition?
Pose the dilemma:
What about those who argue that their Jewish tattooes is so that everyone will
know they are proud to be Jewish and want a physical reminder of their
Jewishness? Or those who argue that a bris is a physical mark that shows
Your Body is a Wonderland
“In my flesh, I see God” (Job, 19:26)
Tzafon 2010
Jewishness, why can’t a tattoo? Or what about those who argue that if earrings
are allowed for beauty and adornment, to beautify the body, they can’t a belly
button ring do the same thing? Do you think these should be an exception?
Ask the USyers to use the text sheets to explain why Jewish experts would
argue that these are not exceptions to the rule. In 2 groups, they have to make
their case.
Step 6: Present and Discuss
Discussion will be based on what they present but challenge them with some of
the texts, feel free to play Devil’s Advocate and reiterate concepts of:
How the body is a site of holiness- K’DUSHAT HAGUF and
Our responsible to safeguard it as a place where we “see God.” S’HMIRAT
HAGUF
Step 7: Conclude/Summarize
Although these tattoos may be expressions of Jewish pride, they are still
outside of the concept of our bodies as holy (Kdushat Haguf) and our
responsibility to safeguard our bodies (Shmirat Haguf) Also, even though you
think you can recover from these markings upon your body, they leave scars.
Tattooing and body piercing like that email you sent or the rude remark you
made, can never truly be taken back.
If one treats their body with the respect and holiness it deserves as a holy site
than body piercing and tattooing will not be a decision to be made.
Who wants to see an 80 year old with a belly button ring anyway?
Your Body is a Wonderland
“In my flesh, I see God” (Job, 19:26)
Tzafon 2010
JEWS AND TATTOOS/YOU PIERCED YOUR WHAT?!?
IMAGES
Your Body is a Wonderland
“In my flesh, I see God” (Job, 19:26)
Tzafon 2010
”Freedom”
Your Body is a Wonderland
“In my flesh, I see God” (Job, 19:26)
Tzafon 2010
Family
(can you figure out where on the body this is?)