INTRODUCTION:

This program explores the complex relationship between Judaism and body art. Jews and Tattoos invites participants to engage in a brief learning session on the history, traditions, and evolving perspectives around tattoos in Jewish life—from ancient prohibitions to modern expressions of identity and memory. After the discussion, participants can relax, shmooze, and have fun giving each other temporary tattoos that celebrate creativity and complexity around Jewish culture and self-expression. 

MATERIALS:

• Jews and Tattoos Source Sheet  
• Temporary Tattoos  
• Paper Towels  
• Water  
• Optional:
  • Snacks, drinks, or consider pairing this program with a full meal… 

PROGRAM OUTLINE (45 minutes): 

• Welcome and Framing (10 minutes) 
• Jews and Tattoos Learning (20 minutes) 
• Shmooze and Temp Tattoos (15 minutes) 

Welcome and Framing (10 minutes)

• Invite everyone to get comfortable and get snacks, drinks, food, etc… 
• Consider having an ice breaker activity: 
  • Have paper and pen out for folks to draw their own tattoo designs  
  • Have people swap stories about tattoos they have or tattoos they might want or plan to get 

Jews and Tattoos Learning (20 minutes)

• Learn through the following source sheet on Jews and Tattoos  
  • If the group is large, you could learn through the source sheet as a full group. For example, ask someone to read a source (the text in the blue box) and then you open the floor for discussion based on the discussion question(s) below that box. Or by asking a more general question like: “What stood out to you or what struck you from that source we just read?”  
  • Alternatively, if the group is large or could benefit from small group discussion, you could break the group off into pairs (ideally pairs of people who don’t know each other yet) and have then read each of the sources to each other and discuss the questions together. Then bring the whole group back together and have each pair share something they discussed or something that interested/challenged them.  

Shmooze and Temp Tattoos (15 minutes)

• Invite everyone to stay and shmooze and choose some temporary tattoos to gives themselves or give each other!