Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
In his Times of Israel blogpost, Douglas Aronin discusses the New York Times Ethicist’s response to a Jewish Woman’s questions about getting a tattoo as part of a team-building effort during the pandemic.
Maya from New York asked:
… I think this is a really fun bonding idea, but …
Although I have never been religious, I am very culturally Jewish … I am struggling because it seems like a fun way to connect with people and commemorate this year, but it feels very taboo. Why does eating the occasional piece of bacon feel OK, when this feels so illicit?
The ethicist responded:
… What it means to be Jewish isn’t up to just you, but your way of being Jewish is very much something you have a say in. …
… The truth is, our beliefs, values and preferences will never be fully coherent. …
Douglas Aronin responded both by pointing out some ethical points missed by the Ethicist as well as discussing what Mr. Aronin described how the exchange “demonstrates the shortcomings of cultural Jewishness as a foundation for the Jewish future:”
… It’s worth noting what the ethicist’s answer does not contain. For someone who is culturally Jewish, the traditional proscription of tattoos might be reinforced by the Nazis’ use of them to number concentration camp inmates, … Even more surprising, the supposed ethicist does not suggest that the questioner consider the feelings of the parents who have “drilled into” her this proscription …
… The ethicist is right, of course that “our beliefs, values and preferences will never be fully coherent”; people are complex and no one is completely consistent. But there is a difference between recognizing the inevitability of inconsistency and making inconsistency an ideal.
Read the full question and answer from the New York Times Ethicist at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/magazine/i-dont-trust-police-testimony-can-i-lie-to-get-on-a-jury.html and Douglas Aronin’s full response at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-ethicist-and-the-tattoo-question/.
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Douglas Aronin is a retired attorney living in Forest Hills, Queens, who is continuing his lifelong involvement in the Jewish community.
A graduate of Columbia Law School, he practiced law for three decades (including a four-year stint with the New York State Attorney General's office) before retiring.
He served for many years as an officer of the UTJ and was a founding board member of the ITJ (Institute of Traditional Judaism) and editor-in-chief of Cornerstone 2.
Doug’s blog appears regularly on Times of Israel, where he addresses an array of political and religious subjects. His writings have also appeared in a wide range of other print and on-line forums.
Here are some of Doug's blog posts: