Can Jews With Tattoos Be Buried in a Jewish Cemetery?

A question we hear often

Jews with tattoos can be buried in a Jewish cemetery. It's one of the most common questions we hear at Neshama, often from families who have worried about it for years.

What Jewish law says about tattoos

Judaism does discourage tattoos. The Torah teaches us not to place permanent marks on our bodies (Leviticus 19:28), because the body is considered sacred.

But nowhere in Jewish law does it say that having a tattoo prevents someone from receiving a Jewish burial.

Where did the myth come from?

No one knows exactly where the idea started. One common explanation is that it grew out of misunderstandings surrounding some Jewish burial societies many years ago. Over time, that misunderstanding became something parents and grandparents repeated, and many people came to accept it as fact.

The same care for every Jew

Today, Jews with tattoos receive full Jewish burials every day. They are cared for with the same dignity, the same tahara and tachrichim, and the same respect as any other Jew.

A tattoo doesn't make someone less Jewish, and it doesn't change the dignity they deserve at the end of life.

Traditions and stories

Sometimes the traditions we inherit are accurate, while the stories we inherit are not. Knowing the difference helps us honor both our faith and one another.

Have a question?

If you're arranging a funeral for someone who had tattoos and have questions, we're glad to talk it through. Call Neshama Jewish Funeral Services any time, day or night, at (954) 744-3432.

If there's something you've always wondered about Jewish burial or Jewish funeral traditions, ask it in the comments on YouTube. It just might become a future episode.