Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
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Questions & Answers ? Mitzvot & Jewish Customs
Are Body Piercings Kosher? By Menachem Posner
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In our contemporary minds, we often associate piercings with tattoos, and we may wonder if they are equally forbidden. Indeed, Scripture clearly forbids all
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tattoos (aside from those made for medical purposes, such as to guide a surgeon): “You shall not etch a tattoo on yourselves.”1
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No such prohibition exists, however, in regards to piercing. In fact, the Torah tells us that Eliezer presented Rebbeca with a nezem (either a nose ring or earring)2 as a gift, and that Aaron instructed the men to bring their wives’ earrings for the golden calf,3 indicating that they were commonly worn by our ancestors.
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Moreover, Jewish Law discusses the permissibility of wearing both nose rings and earrings while out on Shabbat, and whether there is reason to fear that it may lead one to transgress the law against carrying in the public domain on the sacred day of rest.4 But why is piercing allowed? Shouldn’t it be forbidden under the general ban on self-harm? The Lubavitcher Rebbe addresses this issue and concludes that it is not
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Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
considered harm since the piercing has a practical long-term function— allowing the woman to painlessly and easily wear her ring for many years to come.5 Thus, as long as piercings are not disfiguring or demeaning, they are allowed.6
“Gentile” Piercings There is, however, an important caveat: the Torah enjoins us not to follow the ways of the gentiles.7 The parameters of this mitzvah can be fuzzy and evolve according to societal norms. We read in the Code of Jewish Law that it can include things like cutting hair or wearing clothes in ways that are common among non-Jews.8 However, not all clothing worn by non-Jews is forbidden. For example, just because non-Jewish construction workers wear yellow vests doesn’t mean Jewish construction workers should not also wear them. This is a useful wardrobe choice, which Jews should surely adopt. The same goes for other uniforms, which help us identify professionals and service providers, even though their originators were non-Jewish. On the other hand, if a specific cut, color, or fabric choice is common among gentiles and reflects a certain idolatrous or licentious element of society, this would be forbidden. The example given is wearing red, which was favored by women whose moral standards were not quite up to snuff.9 Back to piercings: Some piercings have no non-Jewish connotations and are OK. This surely includes a simple piercing on each ear (for a woman) and may also include other piercings, depending on the specifics of a given time and place. On the other hand, it seems quite clear that other piercings are perceived as non-Jewish and are reflective of a certain rebellious culture, and they are certainly forbidden, as are piercings that are disfiguring or otherwise harmful. If you are considering getting a piercing and are not sure if it’s OK, consult with your community rabbi, who would be best positioned to advise you on how these laws apply in your locale. FOOTNOTES 1. Leviticus 19:28.
5. See Likutei Sichot, vol 20, p 568.
2. Genesis 24:22. This word, nezem, sometimes means a nose ring and sometimes refers to an
6. Igrot Moshe Choshen Mishpat II, 66.
earring (see Chizkunu ad. loc.).
7. Leviticus 18:3, Leviticus 20:23, et. al.
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Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
8. See Maimonides, Laws of Avodah Zarah 11; and
3. Exodus 32:2-3.
Code of Jewish Law, Yoreh De’ah 178.
4. Shulchan Aruch 303:8.
9. See Glosses of Ramah ad. loc.
By Menachem Posner Rabbi Menachem Posner serves as staff editor at Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish informational website. He has been writing, researching, and editing for Chabad.org since 2006, when he received his rabbinic degree from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch. He resides in Chicago, Ill., with his family. Art by Rivka Korf Studio, a Miami-based art design studio run by Rivka Korf, a coffee lover and mother. Rivka uses her expertise and creativity to run a team that creates masterful compositions and illustrations for corporate and large nonprofit organizations. More from Menachem Posner | RSS © Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's copyright policy.
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Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
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Anonymous
September 3, 2020
Aside from earrings and ear piercings, body piercings were used to mark slaves in ancient times if I'm not mistaken. So unless you want to signal to others you're a slave... I remember the Torah verse about slaves and the aul through the ear being an example. Reply H
Hayden
September 3, 2020
Carlsbad
It reads to make cuts in the flesh which an earring or nose ring does. Additionally Rachel was required to remove her nose ring upon converting to Judaism in order to marry Jacob. Reply Y
Y. R. Hacohen
Toronto, Canada
September 2, 2020
In our culture and common usage, men have their coat buttons on the right side, while women on their left. We are instructed, men not to ware women's clothing and vice versa (Devarim 22:: 5 ). I understand, that certain Jewish sects/ groups demand that their men have their buttons on the left - just like the women do. Is this against the Torah's instruction ? Reply K
Kalle Kannisto
Finland
September 2, 2020
Well I have to say that I agree totally with Rabbi in this thing. Also men should not get piercing at all. I think that as Torah says "men wear men's clothes and women women's" Devarim 22:5 A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the LORD thy God, I think this file:///C/Windows.old/Users/Gila/Documents/Are%20Body%20Piercings%20Kosher%20-%20Questions%20&%20Answers.htm[03/09/2020 23:48:19]
Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
includes also accessories, like jewels. Reply
J
Josh Lev
September 2, 2020
New Jersey
How interesting! At first I wondered if this question was in the same spirit as tattoos, which I understood to be forbidden so as to return our bodies in as respectfully intact as possible. This made me wonder if obesity From overeating and lack of exercise is forbidden, or considered “kosher�. Personally I do think of this often when I exercise, along with being thankful for the blessing of a healthy body. Reply M
Marcia
September 2, 2020
Texas
Leviticus 21:5 ..... nor make any cuttings in their flesh. Deuteronomy 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, 1 Kings 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, ... I'm playing it safe. No piercings of any kind for me. I'll wear clip earrings, as every woman in my family always has. In fact, I find them (and tattoos) pretty vulgar, defiling one's body for vanity sake. It fills me with horror when I see baby girls with pierced ears because the mother thinks it's cute. How would you like it if someone came after your babies with needles, just to make holes in them? Is making holes in babies Kosher? Reply Kalle Kannisto
Finland
September 3, 2020
in response to Marcia:
Well here is good example of dedication Reply
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Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
M
Mair Zvi
September 2, 2020
Toronto
Any Jew who had a number tattooed on their forearm by the Nazis,y"s, should be considered as a Holy martyr al kiddush HaShem and when niftar, to enter Gan Eden immediately as they have already experienced gehinnom. Reply
A
Alan Klein
September 2, 2020
Monroe Township
Are men allowed decorative earrings? Reply M
Mair Zvi
September 2, 2020
Toronto
Body piercing is assur, but circumcision is mandatory. Don't try to figure it out.. It's a Divine decree. Reply
J
Joey
August 31, 2020
"Indeed, Scripture clearly forbids all tattoos..." Just to be clear, does this refer only to permanent ones? I thought I'd heard that temporary ones were alright. Reply Amnon Eylath
Cambridge
September 2, 2020
in response to Joey:
Temporary ones are not intrinsically "Tattoos" (which require embedding of a permanent ink into the inner skin layers using a needle). They are simply temporary decorations. Decoration of brides (and sometime grooms) with Henna (Usually hands and feet) is common among many Mizrahi Jewish communities. It wears of after a week or so. Reply Doug R.
Memphis, TN USA
September 2, 2020
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Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
in response to Joey:
If a temporary tattoo is not etched, but is just applied external dye, it isn’t really a tattoo but is simply external artwork like facepainting. If it is etched, it is probably far from temporary, and so is forbidden. Being stamped wit ultraviolet ink on entering a club is this kind of temporary tattoo and so is not forbidden, either Reply Y
Yehudit
August 31, 2020
TX
I have a question about this - septum piercings are slowly becoming more and more commonplace, at least in my area, and not associated with any rebellious sub-culture anymore. Could they be allowed in this instance? Since Rebecca might have had one, how "not-jewish" would it be considered? Reply V. Melamed
Yucca Valley
September 2, 2020
in response to Yehudit:
I have a septum piercing. It was common among Berber women. I am part Berber. One of the problems though chassidism is beautiful in many regards is that it is very ignorant of and seeks accidentally to dilute or erase other Jews' history. History that is thousands of years older than Ashkenazi history. You will be shocked to hear that Berber or Tuareg Jewish women tattooed symbols of the professions of their families on their faces and arms as a source of family pride and beauty, and it was no secret either among gentile Berbers that the Jewish women did this. There is a special face tattoo for a fisherman, for example, a teacher, a family of weavers or farmers or silversmiths. In fact, Jewish men who belonged to a guild in Eretz Yisrael wore golden earrings stamped with the symbol of their guild, like a calling card. So is the reason for the septum piercing a gentile fashion statement, or is it in honour of other older Jewish communities? That's probably something you get to decide. Reply Yehuda
USA
September 3, 2020
in response to V. Melamed:
Don't blame non Berber Jews for not understanding nor wanting to embrace your traditions. We aren't forcing you to like gefilte fish, don't tell us we have to like piercings.
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Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
Besides the OP isn't Berber, she's bending to goyish fashion, and no man with his interest in Judaism wants a woman pierced or inked like a biker broad. Reply E
Elizabeth Morse
August 30, 2020
Kansas
Were is it written that when a slave desires to stay with his master after his time to serve his master is over because he loves his master that his master takes the slave and pierces the slaves ear.....I took this to mean i am not a slave so there fore i let my piercings close up and choose to wear clip on earrings. Reply Anonymous
Usual place
September 2, 2020
in response to Elizabeth Morse:
“And if the slave shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.� Exodus 21:5-6 This Scripture.refers to men only. Note that the piercing is not done indoors by someone of the same status quickly with a thin fire-sterilized sewing needle (as women ear piercing was probably was done). The man stood in public and a hole is bored with a crude tool. It must have been very painful leaving a largish hole. I suspect even men who had no other way to support themselves and their families hesitated entering forever slavery because compared to women who pierced their ears for beauty and probably to easily carry and safeguard family wealth in the form of precious metals, this ceremony was humiliating and painful for a man. Just my humble opinion Reply Yehuda
USA
September 2, 2020
in response to Elizabeth Morse:
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Are Body Piercings Kosher? - Questions & Answers
Parsha Mishpatim. Reply Elizabeth Morse
Kansas
September 2, 2020
in response to Anonymous:
Thank you for making this clear to me, your humble opinion was taken and well kneaded ! Reply anonymous
Usual place
September 2, 2020
in response to Elizabeth Morse:
Baruch Hashem Shalom Aleichem, Elizabeth Morse, But, see? Now I am not as sure as I was earlier that the ear boring was done in public That it was done at the door post or door made me think it was out of doors and visible from outside the home because mezuzah came to mind. Also, I recognize that I have completely ignored the possibility of genuine Love of the master by the male slave. He clearly declares "I love my master, my wife and my children." Perhaps it is as simple as that and has not the economic urgency I suggested was the probable cause of a man becoming a life slave. Thank you for your initial question, which is making me think. I will probably see what the Zohar says about this. If i find something different, I will come back and share it. Will not be today, though! ;-D Peace! Reply
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