The David Star Tattoo: A National Symbol or a Spiritual Wound? What You Need to Know Before Taking the Plunge

The tragedy of October 7th and the ongoing 'Iron Swords' war have fueled a trend among Israelis to get tattoos featuring war symbols, Jewish emblems, and names of cherished ones who were lost, alongside the Israeli flag and uplifting verses from the Tanakh, among other tattoos that commemorate tragedy, memory, and faith in the victory of the Jewish people.

This act is driven by a sincere desire to honor the memory of loved ones and strengthen the belief in the everlasting nature of the Jewish nation. However, the critical question remains: Is this the right way to bring comfort to the deceased, and will this truly add spiritual merits that stand in defense of the Jewish people during these fateful times?

The only thing we can do during these challenging days to ensure the safety of our fighters, secure the return of captives, and protect all of Israel is to increase our commitment to mitzvot and good deeds, to pray, and to strengthen ourselves spiritually. All of these actions invoke divine mercy and can dramatically improve our situation on the front lines and in the homeland.

And here comes the news for those contemplating tattoos—sorry to burst your bubble, but tattoos are a clear prohibition according to the Torah: "You shall not make cuts in your flesh for the dead, nor shall you tattoo any marks on yourselves: I am Hashem" (Leviticus 19:28).

When someone engages in an act that transgresses the Torah, even with the best intentions, it creates a negative spiritual impact on the individual who committed the transgression. During these difficult times, the entire Jewish nation needs the merits of all. Adding actions that contradict the Torah can only harm the Jewish people and certainly doesn’t contribute to our protection and safety from above. Moreover, if the tattoo is meant to memorialize a deceased loved one, it certainly does not bring comfort to the departed, who now exists in the world of truth; instead, it only saddens them to see their loved ones engage in something that contradicts the will of the Creator. The deceased lives in a spiritual realm, evaluated by their proximity to or distance from Hashem. When we perform acts of mitzvah or spiritual engagement in their memory, it elevates their spiritual standing and brings them joy.

To bring comfort to the deceased or contribute to the nation's resilience, there are numerous other ways to achieve these goals far more effectively than through tattoos, such as organizing Torah classes in their memory or to merit protection for the Jewish people, reciting chapters of Tehillim, taking on a specific spiritual commitment (and the greatest of these is observing *Shabbat*, which serves as a covenant between us and Hashem), organizing acts of kindness that can help and contribute, and more.

Tattooing your body is not the right way to do good in this world, as Rabbi Judah Halevi wrote in his book *The Kuzari*: "Your intention is commendable, but your actions are not."

Want to hear more? Check out the question 'Tattoos – What’s the problem with harmless body art?' on the '70 Tough Questions in Judaism'.