Why doesn't Judaism allow body piercings, organ donation or tattoos but is

K

Kat

Member
Joined
May 11, 2008
Messages
703
Reaction score
0
Points
16
still pro circumcision? I'm a reformed Jew and I cannot answer this question. Maybe someone knows how to answer this for me?

it came up in a conversation recently
I don't think that hygiene argument works anymore since there is no problem accessing water or soap. And I could see how circumcision could also count as mutilation of one's body
I am also not a native English speaker and I do make grammatical mistakes often
 
Because God commanded circumcision and forbade tatoos and piercings in the Torah.

It is out of obedience to God.

Furthermore, circumcision is seen as a sign of committment to the faith (and for Christians, it is foreshadowing of circumcizing your heart to obey God's desires and not your own will)

whereas body piercings & tattoos are seen as disfiguring God's creation & in the past had cultic pagan religious associations.
 
LOL, for hygiene, who told you that lie? Circumcision is more mutilating than those other things


You ask a good question. it as most likely because those things back then were only carried out by most tribal people (aka savages) and or didn't exist in that time
 
Are you sure you are Jewish? If you were a Reform Jew you would know that you were a Reform Jew, not a "reformed" Jew.
 
Tattoos and body piercings are were pagan practices done by idol worshipers.

All 3 are in a sense considered desecrating the body. After death, the body is supposed to be allowed to decompose and go back to the earth. However organ donation in the reform movement is allowed now as to save a life does take precedence over the tradition.
 
Circumcision is about completing the creation task of God. In other words, it implies the circumcised body is more complete not mutilated. It is said (in Talmud) that very spirtitual people like Moses & Adam were born circumcised...

Judasim does allow organ donation!! It was determined by most of Orthodox Judaism & obviously the other movements, that saving a life being such utmost priority makes organ donation a good thing. Saving a life takes priority over not mutilating, the same way it takes priority over Shabbat's commandment not to work.

The hygiene argument still works. Cervical cancer is much less in woman who's partners are circumsized. There is an aggressive cancer listed on Hopkins website that only applies to uncircumiced semitic males. And soap & water help, but it's still a difference in keeping clean. So, there are still arguments for it beyond religious.

---------------
On what Marcus said, your question rings as Jew who's not had that much exposure to it. The whole organ transplant thing was decided 15+ years ago. Circumcision has so many elements to it religiously.
This site is great (I've learned things there):
http://www.jewfaq.org
This one is fun (Orthodox perspective - I'm Reform, but it's a good one)
http://www.aish.org
Hope you like them.
 
Dear Kat,
Here is a very touching article by the wife of an orthodox rabbi who donated one of her kidneys. It's worth the time to read. http://www.aish.com/sp/so/48937647.html (read anything by her, she's great!)

Women do have pierced ears and some pierce their nose. It is not against the halacha (Jewish law). Men, on the other hand, do not wear earrings. Why? Maybe because they used their jewelry to build the golden calf! (The women did not participate in the golden calf!!! Cute quote on your profile... you should learn more about women in the tanach/scripture because you'd be happy to see how significantly they shaped our history and how importantly we are shaping it now!)

Here is a short, to the point piece on why we do not tattoo:
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/631046/jewish/Why-Does-Judaism-Forbid-Tattoos.htm

Circumcision: you've had some great answers and mine is not complete but I will say this: the sign that the men need is a reminder to them of how to behave in this world. They are marked to remind them to be righteous according to G.d's laws. We do not worship the body. We honor it and the circumcision is a reminder that we are here to perfect the world. Men have the potential to do so much harm so Jewish men restrict that part of themselves and are supposed to make all their actions holy, including sexuality. (very short answer, keep learning!) If you have the patience for more, here is an article I wrote about my own son's bris: http://www.aish.com/jl/l/48969556.html

Also, Don't be put off by the some of the more negative comments you got. Sometimes people feel very much on the defense about Judaism. Especially on this site.

Here are some great sites to learn more:
http://www./aish.com
http://ou.org
http://www.chabad.org

When you ask a question and you don't get an answer that satisfies you, keep asking. Not necessarily here, find a local Chabad rabbi or a teacher online. The more you seek, the more you'll understand.

Best blessings!
 
Cleanliness. Hygiene. Those other things are pretty much self-mutilation, and have terrible possibilities for complication. Circumcision is clean and relatively safe and results in better hygiene.
 
-that's Reform Jew.
-body piercings and tatoos were what ancient sorcerers used to call down negative spiritual forces. it has nothing to do with body mutilation per say. it has to do with specific markings for specific purposes.
-Jews donate organs, operate on organs and receive them
-circumcision is a sign of the covenant that is a hint or a picture of what is required in that covenant -- see your rabbi for further info -- you're right it has nothing to do with hygiene.

Morgaine, Jews have been "circumcising" ears, hearts and mouths as well as the physical body since Moses. (Christianity actually misses a few and were not the innovators). Moses and a number of other prophets said we are to circumcise our hearts in Devarim 30:6 (Deuteronomy) "Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart...

Jeremiah says ? ???????? ???????, ????????? ???????? ?????????, ????? ????????, ?????????? ????????????: ????-?????? ?????? ???????, ????????? ?????? ????????--????????, ???? ????????????.

4:4.Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem

So Moses and our prophets, used the phrase to teach Israel about the Covenant from the beginning of the Covenant. Circumcision of the body, as a sign of spiritual circumcision heart and mouth is well documented, studied and understood by Jews for 3,000 years before Christianity.
 
Circumcision was the very first sign of the covenant between God and Abraham

See this very good page:

http://www.jewfaq.org/birth.htm#Brit
 
Is because the Sect never understood the true meaning of the Torah.

It was only signs until the reality came.

Anyone remaining under the signs confess that he has no reality.
 
Back
Top