Why We Embark on Giving Free Tattoos for Israelis Injured in War and Terrorist Attack?

As Artists 4 Israel embarks on our Healing Ink: Tattoo Project, I am acutely aware of the potential for disagreement with our mission from many who would otherwise consider us friends and have, in the past, praised our work. In short, the Healing Ink Tattoo Project is bringing 10 of the world’s greatest tattoo artists to provide free tattoos for Israelis injured in war, terrorist attack or other conflict. We are using this art form to help these heros reclaim their bodies and cover physical and emotional scars.

There will be much to say about the (debatable) Jewish restriction on tattooing and the (undeniable) social, religious, generational and professional stigma associated with it.

While the days of “all tattooed people are either gang members or bikers” is in our collective rearview, certain segments of the Jewish population still cling to similarly problematic misunderstandings and internalized biases.

Beyond the (absolutely false) “you can’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery” and the (sometimes true) “it is insensitive to Holocaust survivors” are a host of other questions, concerns and debate that cut deeper than any tattoo ever could. Perhaps the most damning complaint I’ve already heard was that, by tattooing Jews, we were moving them further from Gd and causing horrific damage to ourselves of biblical proportions.

Hyperbole aside, I do not wish to get into a debate about Hebrew translation and textual verse spoken Torah. Admittedly, I am not good enough to even try and leave an impression on such a topic when so many learned men and women abound. I welcome those who do wish to discuss this topic and will happily arrange a moderated panel discussion at one of our events, allowing each side to proselytize as best they can (seriously, e-mail me on [email protected]), but my goal is to set a humanistic and civil standard for any future discussion.

Allow me three ground rules:

1. Let us honor and respect those heroes and victims we are tattooing. Amongst our recipients is a soldier who jumped on a terrorist as he detonated his homicide belt and saved countless lives while sacrificing all of himself and one that laid, paralyzed from the waist down, in the dirt and under a barrage of 20 bullets that hit him and countless others that just missed performing CPR on his friend and brother in arms who died in his hands. I personally believe that I nor anyone has any right to judge the actions of these men and women and any methods they choose to cope with their physical and mental trauma. If they are not the very ideal of Jewish and Zionistic principles, then no one is. I do not wish to put man above Gd but I will hold dear the idea that these men and women have been guided by Gd in those times and no other mortal should attempt to direct their actions now.
2. Let us step outside of our glass houses. No one is without sin. No one observes every single Mitzvot. Yet, somehow, this is the one single ideal that critics not only feel the right to criticize but fancy they have the moral superiority to go out of their way to condemn. Are there not people who have coveted their neighbor’s possessions among the chorus of boos? Are all the men who shake their heads at us, shaking pais when they do so? And, most importantly, are they honoring Hillel when they treat others in a way I assume they do not wish to be treated. Fair, respectful and courteous disagreement is welcome, please just be sure it is also honest.
3. Let us remember that we are kin. Just as families may disagree, they do so kindly and behind closed doors. Facebook is for pictures of cats, weather updates and odd musings - not to pillar each other. We are coming at this to help our people and our intentions - both mine and those who may disagree with them - are good. Remember that in our rhetoric and our choice of forum. 

The Jewish world has always been one of great progress and great debate. I look forward to combining those two.

Thank you,

Craig