TATTOO JEW in the NEW YORK TIMES!!!

For people interested in my documentary film and book project Tattoo Jew, check it out: The New York times interviewed me for an article on Jews with Tattoos in their style section called Skin Deep. It came out in print on Thursday, but you can read it online at the link above or you can just scroll down and read the text below.

I'm really excited about being mentioned in the article, and they even used two of our photos (with credit to Justin Dawson) for the piece. Woo Hoo! Keep an eye on the Tattoo Jew website in the next few days. I'm trying to revise the site into something bigger and more exciting, including the longer seven minute preview for the film.

Drop me a line and let me know what you think.
Cheers,
Andy Abrams

July 17, 2008
Skin Deep
For Some Jews, It Only Sounds Like 'Taboo'
By KATE TORGOVNICK

ROBERTA KAPLAN, 71, has never been a fan of tattoos. "I'm a very Jewish person," she said. "I was told from way, way back that you're not supposed to desecrate your body."

Ms. Kaplan ordered her five children to renounce tattoos. (What would neighbors at synagogue think?) Her children, in turn, did the same (every third teenager may have an ankle tattoo souvenir from spring break, but that doesn't make it right by the Torah).

By the time Ms. Kaplan's daughter Liz Carnes, 49, had teenage daughters who wanted body art, Ms. Carnes knew how to dissuade them. "I'd say, 'If you get a tattoo, you can't be buried in a Jewish cemetery,' " said Ms. Carnes, the owner of a video equipment company in Carlsbad, Calif. "For no real reason, just that's what my parents told me."

Nearly every Jew, from those who go to synagogue only on holidays to those who dutifully follow Jewish law, has heard that adage. It has deterred many from being inked, even as tattoos have become widespread among N.B.A. players and housewives alike.

According to a 2007 poll of 1,500 people conducted by the Pew Research Center, 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds and 40 percent of 26- to 40-year-olds have at least one tattoo. Still, even Larry David was so haunted by the cemetery edict that he wrote an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in which he pays off a gravedigger to have his mother reburied in a Jewish cemetery despite a small tattoo on her behind.

But the edict isn't true. The eight rabbinical scholars interviewed for this article, from institutions like the Jewish Theological Seminary and Yeshiva University, said it's an urban legend, most likely started because a specific cemetery had a policy against tattoos. Jewish parents and grandparents picked up on it and over time, their distaste for tattoos was presented as scriptural doctrine.

At first, Nicki Carnes, daughter of Liz and granddaughter of Roberta, listened to her elders. "I took what they said to heart," said Nicki Carnes, 29, who works for her mother's company. "Then as I got older, I started doing my own research. I asked different rabbis, and they each had their own take."

By the time, three years ago, she had an abstract rendering of her cat tattooed on her wrist, she wasn't sure she was in the wrong. After all, she had figured out on her own what has yet to become commonly known among Jews: that rabbis disagree about just how bad it is to get inked.

Still, you try confronting your grandmother. Instead, Nicki Carnes hid her abstract cat for months, until one day her sleeve rode up. "My grandma grabbed my arm and just stared," she said. "She gave me that blank, 'You broke my heart' look."

Old myths die hard, and many tattooed Jews in their 20's and 30's say they often are criticized by other Jews, both relatives and strangers. Some, like Nicki Carnes and her sister, Rebecca, who now also has a tattoo, say that being permanently marked was just something they wanted. Others say they were tattooed to rebel or, surprisingly, that they wanted a Jewish tattoo as a way of connecting with their religious and cultural identity.

Andy Abrams, a filmmaker, has spent five years making a documentary called "Tattoo Jew." In his interviews with dozens of Jews with body art, he's noticed the prevalence of Jewish-themed tattoos — from Stars of David to elaborate Holocaust memorials, surprising since one reason Jewish culture opposes tattoos is that Jews were involuntarily marked in concentration camps.

Mr. Abrams has even seen tattoos that crack jokes, like the one on the back of Ari Bacharach's neck: the word "Kosher" above a pig, an ironic statement about identity. "The people I interviewed are trying to express their Judaism, or connect with God or their Jewish roots," said Mr. Abrams, 38, who lives in Los Angeles and calls himself a nonpracticing Orthodox Jew. "They're taking this prohibited act and using it to feel more Jewish."

Take Marshal Klaven, 29. While studying in Israel as a teenager, he decided to become a rabbi. For the first time, "it became not just the Jewish people, but my Jewish people," he said. This sense of belonging inspired him to get the first of his three tattoos, a Star of David and a dove.

"For me, it's about cultural pride and connecting in this very tangible, very visible way to a part of our lives that isn't so tangible," said Mr. Klaven, who is now a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati and is writing his thesis on tattooing in the Jewish tradition.

Rabbi Mark Washofsky, one of his thesis advisers, said Mr. Klaven's work opens up a Pandora's box of mixed feelings. "A lot of Jews of my generation are confused about tattoos," said Rabbi Washofsky, 55. "We don't think it's a very 'Jewish' thing to do, but we're not really sure why. Many of us are baby boomers who remember being condemned for our modes of dress and expression." He added: "We swore we'd never do this to our kids. Now we are."

Jewish law on tattooing is slippery. Leviticus 19:28 states, "You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead nor incise any marks on yourself: I am the Lord." For Rabbi Washofsky, it's unclear whether the passage strictly outlaws tattoos that refer to a god, or whether it generally condemns any personal adornment. Ear piercing, he added, is not controversial.

For Mr. Klaven, historical context is key. When Leviticus was written, tattooing was largely a pagan practice, done to mark slaves or to show devotion to a pharaoh, Mr. Klaven said. Since tattooing has evolved, he thinks the rule may be outdated.

Not all scholars agree. Rabbi Alan Bright, a spokesman for the Jewish Funeral Directors of America, dismissed the cemetery adage as "a load of rubbish," but he said that tattooing was a no-no. He quotes Deuteronomy 4:15, which commands Jews to take care of their bodies, as evidence.

But he noted that Jewish law prohibits many things that secular Jews do without a second thought. "The Torah prohibits anything negative that affects the body," he said. "Smoking is more of a violation of Jewish law." As are drinking alcohol in excess and overeating.

IT'S difficult to know exactly how many young Jews are being tattooed, because no organization tracks these numbers. But a pro-tattoo community is emerging online. Christopher Stedman, a 23-year-old student in Rohnert Park, Calif., started a MySpace group called "Jews with Tattoos" in 2004, after noticing more Jewish friends being tattooed. The group now has 839 members.

Mr. Stedman was raised Christian. When he converted to Judaism at 19, he already had a tattoo of a Norwegian knight, so he wasn't too worried about getting another. He had the Hebrew words for "love" and "hate" inscribed on his feet.

Daniel Koffler, a graduate student, draws lots of attention with the Star of David on his muscular bicep. Growing up in a culturally Jewish (but not terribly religious) family, he was told that nice Jewish boys don't get body art.

"It's both prohibited but also a permanent identification with the community," said Mr. Koffler, 24, who lives in New York City.

When he got this tattoo four years ago, Mr. Koffler thought he couldn't be buried in a Jewish cemetery. When strangers would belabor the point, his reply was, "I don't care what happens to my body when I die." And now that he knows his ink won't bar him from Jewish cemeteries? "I can say, 'That's just wrong,' " he said.

Nearly every day fellow Jews take it upon themselves to harangue Ami James, a tattoo artist on "Miami Ink," the TLC reality TV series. It doesn't help that he is heavily tattooed and lives in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. "I'll be buying groceries, and I get asked, 'How could you do that to yourself?' " Mr. James said.

Still, he is often asked to do Jewish-themed tattoos in the Miami Beach shop where he is one of the owners, the Love Hate Tattoo Studio.

Todd Weinberger, the creative director of Inked Magazine, grew up in a family that kept kosher, and recently got his first tattoo with his girlfriend, Jennifer Goldstein, an editor at CosmoGirl magazine. Their matching Hebrew ones read, "Forever and ever." "We're not into marriage, so we wanted to get commitment tattoos," said Mr. Weinberger, 37, who lives in Brooklyn. "We were hesitant because we knew it was against the religion, but Judaism has got to evolve with the times."

Last weekend, Mr. Weinberger's family saw their adornments for the first time. "It went over a lot better than I thought," he said. "They were more upset that it was a commitment to us not getting married."

1:09 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Support TATTOO JEW.......
Current mood: determined

Areas of Interest and Assistance Needed.......

In our final push to complete out ongoing Tattoo Jew project, our team/film/book needs your help... We are looking for: 1. Tattooed Jews interested in being filmed and interviewed (especially those with Judaic/Hebrew/Kabbalah/Yiddish/Jewish-themed tattoos). 2. Volunteer to help with production and post-production. 3. Film editors, or people with editing equipment to help us finish the film Tattoo Jew. 4. Anyone who wants to contribute money to the finishing of Tattoo Jew, or anyone who has connections with people who are interested in offering financial support to Tattoo Jew. $$$! 5. Support with the production and completion of the Tattoo Jew book (agents, editors, publishers, etc.). Please keep us in mind and keep in touch. We're eagerly hoping to have a finished version of Tattoo Jew available for the public to screen and purchase by Summer 2006. With your help and support we can get it done! Thanks again to everyone who's been interested and supportive. Warm regards, Andy Abrams 323-578-7853 andy@tattoojewmovie.com

7:43 PM - 42 Comments - 49 Kudos - Add Comment

Tattoo Jew Lecture Tour...

I had the opportunity to speak about Tattoo Jew at Penn State University last Thursday, which was a really enjoyable experience. My hosts were great (thanks!) and the professors in attendance were welcoming and interested. The audience was small but they were attentive, and they asked great questions. It got me excited about the possibility of bringing the topic of Tattoo Jew to other locations in the near future.

So, check this out... If you are interested in my coming to your college, synagogue, tattoo shop, high school, community center, art gallery, or whatever please let me know. I know we're not finished with the project yet, but if you think it would be worthwhile to have me come speak to a group (along with a slideshow and a short piece of the film to screen) please drop me a line here or (the best way is to) send me an e-mail to:

andy@tattoojewmovie.com

Tell me who you are, where you are, what you have in mind, and we can discuss the possibility and details after that. I'm really excited about Tattoo Jew. If you're interested in having me come share the details about this exciting project please get in touch.

Thanks!

Andy Abrams

8:00 PM - 6 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Some of you are missing the point.

Look, I have other things on my mind right now besides these anti-semites that keep e-mailing me. I really appreciate all your thoughts and your replies about today's Jew hater. However, some of you are missing the point.

I post these messages so people don't forget about the hate that's out there and still very real today. Anyone who tells you that Jewish people aren't hated can read up on it anywhere. It's everywhere from Saudi textbooks to underground neo-nazis in this country. So, don't forget it's real.

However, I believe people are entitled to their beliefs as long as they don't try to push them on me. When a stranger tells me he wants to kill all Jews it's not okay; but it's not okay for me to come back and say I want to kill all people like him either. I do think that there are times for violence. Try to hurt someone I love and I will end your life. But writing to me, as several of you have, and suggesting we kill all bigots is missing the message. I don't want to kill them with a bullet. I want to shine some light on them. I want to keep all of us aware and accountable.

Part of me got a kick out of the idea that all of you would send your thoughts to these bigotted assholes. But if you're telling me you want to kill a whole group of people, I can't imagine what you tell them. Killing all bigots makes us just as bad as them, and any Jew who suggests any kind of genocide is an appropriate response to hate has obviously missed the meaning of the Holocaust.

Again, thanks for the thoughts and support. From now on all hater's messages go straight to the administrators of myspace and I won't be posting them as bulletins any more.

5:52 PM - 41 Comments - 42 Kudos - Add Comment

Keeping an eye on people who spread hate.

After the several times I've been sent hate mail by Nazis and assholes I thought it would be useful to keep a blog about ways to track, stay informed about, and respond to hate. I'll add more soon (and I'm open to ideas and suggestions). This is a good place to start:

Check out this Symbols of Hate database from the Anti-Defamation League. It's got a lot of interesting information about, particularly about the sneaky numerical codes these Nazis use.

Why the visual database? Well, for example, some people on myspace use those secret numbers to identify themselves. If it weren't so sinister it would just be so funny, these kids and their secret clubs. But it's not funny. The number 88 comes up a lot. 88 as in HH, or Heil Hitler. Get it? I noticed it on some myspace pages and learned to look for it.

Anyway, for what it's worth. Stay tuned for more.

8:11 PM - 18 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

Tattoo Jew Event February 13th.

2:15 PM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Tattoo Consultation for Jewish Tattoos

Tattoo Consultation

For those of you wanting to get tattoos with Jewish themes and images, or in Hebrew or Yiddish, I am more than happy to help.

I have had e-mails lately from a number of people looking for assistance in designing their tattoos or in working out quotes or sayings.

First of all, I am not an artist. I am not fluent in Hebrew, either. However, if there is anyone who has seen most of the Jewish tattoos out there, it's me!

My one piece of advice is this: do something original, something that means a lot to you. Design it yourself or with a tattoo artist you trust.

If you still want feedback or help, I will do my best to work with you. I have plenty of people who are well-versed in Jewish iconography, Hebrew and Yiddish, and who are great artists. Send me an e-mail here, or at andy@tattoojewmovie.com and I will, time permitting, do what I can.

If you are a tattoo artist or a Jewish tattoo artist, and you want me to list you as a resource for people, drop me a line and let me know. I can send people your way to have their work done.

If you are someone who feels they can help all these tattoo hungry Jews with Hebrew or Yiddish, with their religious and spiritual tattoo ideas, etc. please drop me a line and let me know if I can use your help when people ask me for assistance with their tattoo planning.

I'm very honored that Tattoo Jew has been inspiring a number of people to go out and get Jewish tattoos. Some of you have even been inspired, got inked, and then offered to be photographed for the book or film! If you have ink and I can take your picture for Tattoo Jew I will try to make it happen.

This is just my effort to try to help those of you who have been asking for assistance with their tattoos.

Maybe someone wants to help me put together a Jewish database of inked people, as well as Jewish tattoo artists or tattoo artists who are confident in inking Hebrew letters? Anyone?

Thanks!
Andy Abrams
andy@tattoojewmovie.com

8:40 AM - 24 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Yiddish Tattoos? Kabbalah Tattoos?

Yiddish Tattoos? Kabballah Tattooos?

Anyone?

Drop me a line, send me a name, send me a pic.

Thanks!
Andy
andy@tattoojewmovie.com

8:38 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Request for PHOTOS for Tattoo Jew

Tattoo Jew is looking for your photos!

After the responses I've had from posting the other photos from the Tattoo Jew project I've decided to add a community photo section to the website www.tattoojewmovie.com

If you have tattoos in Hebrew or Yiddish, or tattoos with a Jewish theme, please send them to me at andy@tattoojewmovie.com

This is what I need:

SUBJECT LINE: Tattoo Jew Community Photos

PHOTOS: Label them, please, in some clear fashion. Your name or something.

TEXT: Please tell me what the tattoo is (translate it if it's in Hebrew). Please tell me why you got the tattoo. Please tell me who you are, where you are located, how old you are, etc. Please tell me something about what it means to you to be Jewish.

CONTACT INFO: Please send me your contact info.,

Thanks very much!

Andy Abrams

p.s. I am still looking for interview subjects for the book. If you're interested, let me know and maybe we can work in an interview and photo shoot for the book.

p.p.s. I am still looking for people with Yiddish tattoos, or tattoos related to Kabbalah. If you, or anyone you know fits into any of these categories, please let me know. Anyone?

10:51 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Tattoo Jew on the www.jewsweek.com HOT LIST!

TATTOO JEW MADE THE HOT LIST ON WWW.JEWSWEEK.COM!!!!!

Click on www.jewsweek.com and then click on the section for the hot list. Jewsweek is one of my favorite Jewish websites, and I like their work a lot. Getting recognition from them is super cool. All of you hip Jews out there should add Jewsweek to your favorites, because they have their finger on the pulse of cool Jewishness.

We're very proud of this, and big thanks to Jewsweek for taking notice!

Andy Abrams

6:50 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment