Can Jews Get Tattoos? with David Braslawsce

Bad Jew

Let's be real. Tattoos look cool. Some tattoos are questionable and regrettable later in life. But ultimately, who doesn't want a tattoo? It's also important to acknowledge that Jews and tattoos haven't always had the best relationship given our survival story. Despite this, it's been well-known that Jews can't have tattoos. What if we told you that's not true?

Chabad Rabbi Dovid Braslawsce hails from the Yiddishkeit communities of the East Coast to teach why tattoos are actually acceptable. You read that correctly. Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, gets his preconceived notions challenged by this new school of thought most have never considered before. Learn the actual rules and semantics of the Torah around the hot-button topic of tattoos with Chaz and 'The Tattoo Rabbi'!

About Rabbi Dovid Braslawsce:

Dovid, originally from the trucker-stop town of Beaver, Pennsylvania, where his family stood as the lone Jewish presence among its 4 thousand inhabitants, navigated a childhood marked by boundless energy and frequent mischief, lacking kosher avenues to express his authentic self. However, his trajectory shifted after being exposed to both Chabad and Mixed Martial Arts during his time in university.

Today, known affectionately as the Tattoo Rabbi, Dovid calls Crown Heights, New York home, dedicating himself to dual pursuits: G-d and the discipline of martial arts. By day, he serves as the Happiness Manager for Chabad.org, while his evenings are devoted to leading a self-defense program for men in Crown Heights. He also travels internationally to campuses and communities to share his story, give encouragement, and teach what it means to be a strong and proud Jew.

His overarching purpose lies in inspiring and empowering individuals, irrespective of their religiosity, to embrace and take ownership of their Yiddishkeit.

00:00 Introduction to Rabbi Dovid Braslawsce

06:06 Can Jews Have Tattoos?

09:09 Jewish cemeteries laws around tattoos

12:02 Bible origin of the law

14:34 Holocaust survivors and the Jewish relationship with tattoos

18:27 Life and death situations

24:57 Meaningful decisions for tattoos

28:42 Tattoo removal

30:21 Expressing Jewish identity in action

32:43 Conclusion

Connect with Rabbi Dovid Braslawsce

IG @tattoo_rabbi

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