Jews w/ Tattoos

Jews W. Tattoos: Episode #7 - Ethan Mayo - The Blessing of Memory and the Infinite Within

It was great to catch up with an old student of mine who challenged me as a younger rabbi, and who now challenges all of us. Ethan's message about loving ourselves to the point where we see how infinite we are internally is a necessary message for today. In his life Ethan has transcended not only the limits that others placed on him, but also the one we mistaken place on ourselves.

Jews W. Tattoos - Rabbi Iggy

Our first, and I suspect, not our last interview with a tattooed rabbi. Rabbi Iggy is a friend from my days at Camp Ramah. Like all of us, Iggy has evolved in different ways in his life. The one consistent is that he's a good person. Today we find his as the founder and director of the T'shuvah Center in New York City (https://www.tshuvahcenter.com/), offering recovery and support to those suffering from the disease of addiction. In our conversation Rabbi Iggy teaches us what it means to transcend what we, and other people, might think about us through living a life of juxtaposition and awe. And what couldn't be more of a juxtaposition than a rabbi who bears the Torah on his skin.

Jews w/ Tattoos: Episode #5 - Sam Ogren - Finding a Family At Home and Abroad

One of my best episodes to date! Not only because this was an in-person conversation, but also because the sound quality is the best so far :) Sam is a Warrior-Brother of mine from the Mankind project, which we discuss a little bit. And yet this episode is chock full of interesting conversation points: From Jewish identity, personal growth, family, to anti-semitism, white-privilege and hoping people see you as a Jew. This is a conversation you don't want to miss! Here is a link to the image from Knockaround Guys that we reference. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211465/mediaviewer/rm2161424896 These is the quote from Rabbi Heschel and Rev King that I reference in the episode: I solemnly pledge to uphold the fair name of Jews. Not only because we need their friendship, and surely we do, but mainly because bigotry in any for is an affront to us all. (Rev Martin Luther King Jr.) One hundred years ago, the emancipation was proclaimed. It is time for the white man to strive for self-emancipation, to set himself free of bigotry. (Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel)

Jews w/ Tattoos: Episode #4 - Aaron Bock - In Spite Of...

In this episode, Aaron Bock takes us on journey around the world and his spiritual development. During our discussion we also venture into the topic of dual-identity and explore the overlap between Jewish and American values.

Jews w/ Tattoos: Episode #3 - Alan Platock - Be Who You Are, Wherever You Are

In this episode Alan shares with us a what his Jewish identity means to him; and how his tattoos have helped him express his identity, for better or worse.