Vanessa Marcil Undergoes Tattoo Removal for Conversion to Judaism

Jessica, concerning what is actually "understood"  tatoos are forbidden under Jewish law.  Removal is therefore hardly a wasted effort.

This young woman Vanessa can be seen as sensitive to the issue in the first instance for not being seen with a forbidden marking on her body and second, for wanting to be in step with other women in her new peer group.

Now, if she wishes to go for a kosher conversion--she will lack a visible impediment to her new Jewish identity. You opine that she should have been told not to bother--obviously, she is following the correct directions.

Is it against halacha to "have" a tattoo or to "get" one.  Nine times out of ten it would be a distinction without a difference, but in the case of a convert that would seem to be the deciding factor.  

--Z

She doesn't mention Halachah. She says she is having them removed to be "in line with her new faith". Since Judaism certainly frowns on tatoos that seems reasonable.

I suspect that any convert with a pork recipes  book on their bookshelf probably tosses that with the conversion too.

I can't speak for conversion, but I know that as I became more observant there were lots of things I had to get rid of--some for Halachic reasons and some for appearance issues (ma'aris ayin). Admittedly none were as painful as tatoo removal.

That she'd be religious enough to care about the tattoo yet not religious enough to be hiding it with her clothing. 

--Z

Ben Younger is actually a distant relative of mine. his mother married my (estranged)uncle after his first wife passed away. i haven't seen Ben since i was about 5, because his stepfather is a religious fanatic and has made it a point to not speak to any of the "less observant" members of our extended family. his kids, who are a few years older than me, don't share that mentality thankfully. but i only see them once a year at most.

i can understand that having his future wife convert is important to Ben based on the way he was raised. i'm not going to question why Ms. Marcil is converting (so she can marry him) or why Corey Feldman didn't demand the same rigorous process (he was probably too cracked out to notice any differences), because it's none of my business and i'm of the opinion that the important thing to look at is that the individual is converting period, not why or how. but i don't think the tattoo removal is necessary. i've been to Chabad houses and other Jewish functions where people have tattoos, both born-Jews and Jews-By-Choice. yes, tattoos are frowned upon. but they don't completely limit a person's participation in Jewish life. conversion is not surgery; you are changing your religious beliefs, not altering your appearance...unless you ultimately become Haredi.

If Ben wanted a Jewish wife he should have dated Jewish women. This Vanessa woman, whoever she is, is going to be about as Jewish as the Pope.  Many Orthodox Rabbis don't aknowledge the "conversions" of shiksa Jewish wannabes for the sole purspoe of marriage.  They shouldn't.  These conversion are so transparent and phony.

Hey Ben, your future wife is a Gentile so your children will be Gentiles, get over it!  Pretending she's going to be a Jew because she underwent a phony converison is delusional.

 Once a divorce occurs the Gentiles will go back to being their old customs and once again become secular Christian non-believers.

Where did she say she was converting to Judaism solely to marry a Jew? Any otrhodox Rabbi will tell you that you must convert to Judaism before you can have a Jewish marriage under Halachah. Whether you otherwise meet the requirements for conversion are a differnt issue that does not seem to be addressed here. Let's give her the benefit of the doubt, right?

Zbird,

I don't think it's that unusual for someone who is not orthodox to pick and chose among mitzvos. I see that all the time where people can be quite strict in some areas and don't follow Halachah in other areas. I figure people in glass houses.... and generally assume the best.

i cannot speak for Ben as i have not seen him in many years. but i've kept up with his life via interviews conducted by the media. yes, he's dated non-Jewish women. he grew up Orthodox, but isn't anymore. he is still somewhat observant, but on a much less stringent degree. nowhere in this or any article related to him does it mention that he requires his future wife to have an Orthodox conversion should it come down to it. yes, you could say if Ben really wanted a Jewish wife he would have dated only Jewish women. but he didn't, and you can't hold that against him or anyone else. furthermore, it's none of your business what he or anyone else does in their personal life just as it's none of my business why Ms. Marcil is converting. like Yaakov, said, give her the benefit of the doubt. you're probably one of those gossip mongers at shul who has to talk about everyone behind their back, especially if they're involved with a Gentile or convert. shut up already. stop telling people they're not "real Jews." elitist snob.

Let me get this straight...They're religious enough to remove tatoos, but not religious enough to not live together before they marry? I'm not religious or anything, but it seems like a no-no to me. A bit hypocritical, too.