Q. Why does Judaism forbid Tattooing?
A. The source of this prohibition is Leviticus 19:28: "You shall not etch a tattoo on yourselves." This prohibition applies to all tattoos besides those made for medical purposes such as to guide a surgeon making an incision. Someone who does have a tattoo though is not required by Jewish law to have it removed.
The human body is G‑d's creation, and it is therefore unbefitting to mutilate G‑d's handiwork. It is especially unbefitting for members of G‑d's chosen nation to mutilate their bodies. While tattoos may be wonderful art pieces, we believe that G‑d, the greatest artisan of all, formed each of us in His image, an image that we must not change.
A person is comprised of a body and soul which are intrinsically connected. Kabbalah teaches us that what happens to our body effects our soul as well. That is why we must be very careful to take care of our body because “A small hole in the body creates a great hole in the soul”. When we change the look of our body synthetically by inserting a tattoo we are also affecting our souls.
While Judaism forbids tattooing it does not place any stigma on someone who has a tattoo, they are no less responsible to fulfill Mitzvot than someone without a tattoo including the Mitzavah of not getting any more tattoos. Contrary to the popular belief, there is no prohibition for a Jew with a tattoo to be buried in a Jewish cemetery and having tattoos on one’s body doesn’t change the laws involving their Jewish burial in any way.