Why are we not supposed to get tattoos?
Tattooing has been a part of civilizations for thousands of years. Some cultures tattooed themselves for religious reasons, some social or cultural and some cosmetic. In biblical times people tattooed when someone died as a mourning practice. In Jewish law, not only is this not done, it is strictly forbidden. We were created in G-d’s image. We were each given unique characteristics that make us unique. To alter that is to dismiss the notion that those characteristics are divine. To tattoo one’s self is to say that there is something wrong with the way that G-d made him.
The Torah states explicitly that “you should not put a tattoo on your body.” (Leviticus 19:27) This is accepted Jewish practice, and is written in the Code of Jewish Law – (Yoreh Deah 180:1) From a social perspective, getting a tattoo is a sign of rebellion. You seldom hear a person saying that he got a tattoo because he loves the art form and would like to be exhibited in a tattoo museum. Usually those who get a tattoo are projecting their mental conflicts on their bodies as a form of dealing with whatever issue is bothering them at the time.
Rabbi Gershon Litt