Hoops are nothing new for basketball player and senior Brian Shorr. Yet there is a certain kind of hoop that lands far out of Shorr’s court — hoop earrings, or any sort of body modification.

“I think people have a right over their own body and should choose the ways in which they want to express themselves — be it piercings or tattoos — but I also think that since everyone is created in God’s image, they shouldn’t taint or alter their body that much,” Shorr said.

Shorr’s upbringing in a Modern Orthodox home and community has taught him to value tradition and modesty, and accordingly, his opinions reflect the traditional Jewish perspective on body modifications. Shorr is among many who have heard that Jews with tattoos are prohibited from burial in a Jewish cemetery. Contrary to popular belief though, there is no evidence of such a Jewish law.

The myth derives from an ambiguous verse in Leviticus that prohibits body modifications but is nondescript in the punishment for this act. Leviticus 19:28 states, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.”

Rabbinic interpretations help to clarify how this verse impacts the Jewish standing on body modifications. While there is no clear consensus on what the halakhic punishment for obtaining a body modification is, several rabbinical teachings argue that there are certain circumstances under which body modifications are not punitive. In the Shulhan Aruch, a prominent code of Jewish law, Yoreh De’ah 180:2 states that “If it [the tattoo] was done in the flesh of another, the one to whom it was done is blameless,” meaning that the prohibition against body modifications is only relevant with regard to discretionary ones.

There is also a rabbinical debate about why body modifications, and specifically tattoos, are prohibited in the first place. While the issue with tattoos is generally understood to be their permanency, Rabbi Simeon ben Judah argues that tattooing is only prohibited if the tattoo itself includes the name of god, citing the second part of Leviticus 19:28 — “I am the Lord” — as evidence for this understanding. According to Maimonides, however, the prohibition is in place because tattooing was common among pagans, who were known for idolatry, which starkly contrasts with traditional Jewish values.

Interestingly, Professor Aaron Demsky of Bar-Ilan University believes that non-idolatrous tattooing was possibly permitted in biblical times. To back this claim, he cites Isaiah 44:5, which reads: “One shall say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’ and another shall use the name of Jacob, and another shall mark his arm ‘of the Lord’ and adopt the name of Israel”, and Isaiah 49:16, which reads “See, I have engraved You on the palms of my hands…”

In the halls of JDS, it is not uncommon to come across students or faculty with some kind of body modification. Junior Josie Walker one of many female students who has several ear piercings. Walker’s position on body modifications is informed by her personal opinions. She believes that a person should modify their own body in accordance with whatever they are comfortable with. Not only does Walker believe that modifications are acceptable, but she supports them, and believes that they are a strong mode for self-identification.

“Body modifications say a lot about you and reflect your personality,” Walker said. “This lets other people know what you like or what kind of things you’re into.”

Junior Adam Landa shares this point of view with Walker. While he does not have or want any body modifications, he encourages the practice for those who feel it would help to define their character.

“If somebody feels like a body modification would help express their identity, then by all means go for it,” Landa said.

While Shorr respects the idea of self-expression, he believes that there are other, equally productive ways that someone can show who they are. He cited music, extracurriculars and clothing as examples.

“I think that you can express yourself in different ways, rather than body art which is permanent … so I just think tattoos aren’t necessary,” Shorr said.