Should My Teenage Niece Get A Nose Ring?

Question:

I'm a Jewish woman and recently my Jewish brother got my teenage niece a nose ring after she insisted she wanted one. I don't think the Torah allows Jews to get nose rings. How do you suggest I approach this issue with guidance from the Torah? Thank you for your help and support.

A Torah-Based Argument Against Piercings And Body Modifications

As a Jewish woman who seeks to live according to the Torah’s commandments, I have been deeply concerned about my niece’s decision to get a nose ring. While this practice might seem harmless to some and perhaps even fashionable, I believe that the Torah provides clear guidance on why any form of body piercing or cutting should be avoided.

The Sanctity of the Body in Torah Law

The Torah emphasizes the sanctity of the human body, which is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). We are called to honor and preserve this sacred vessel throughout our lives, maintaining the wholeness and purity of the body that God designed. The Torah's laws are clear in prohibiting any form of bodily harm or mutilation, especially when it comes to cutting or marking the body.

In Leviticus 19:28, the Torah says:

"You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord."*

This verse specifically addresses the practice of making cuts in the body as part of mourning rituals for the dead. However, the underlying principle here is crucial: the Torah prohibits cutting the body because it defiles the sanctity of life. Even though the verse references mourning, it implies that any cutting of the body—whether for mourning, beauty, or adornment—goes against the natural and divine state of the human body.

Similarly, in Deuteronomy 14:1, the Torah repeats this prohibition:

"You are children of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead."

Again, we see a connection between cutting the body and mourning practices, but the deeper principle is that the body is to remain intact and unaltered, honoring the life that God has given.

Cutting the Body is Symbolically Linked to Death

Although some might argue that Leviticus and Deuteronomy specifically prohibit cutting the body only in the context of mourning, I believe that any act of cutting or piercing carries the same symbolic weight as cutting for the dead. Once we make a cut in our flesh, we have compromised the wholeness of our bodies. The fact that the Torah consistently pairs this prohibition with mourning rituals indicates that cutting the body, in any form, diminishes the divine integrity of life and brings us closer to a state of defilement—one associated with death.

The human body, as created by God, is perfect in its form. If God had intended for us to have holes in our ears or noses for jewelry, He would have created those openings naturally. The fact that He did not means that we should not create them ourselves by cutting the flesh. Altering the body through piercing or any form of mutilation distorts the sacred vessel that God has designed, and this act is thus symbolically linked to death, as it diminishes the fullness of life.

No Distinction Between Mourning and Beauty

One might claim that there is a difference between cutting the body for mourning and cutting the body for adornment or beauty, but the Torah does not make this distinction. Any cut to the body violates its divine wholeness, regardless of the reason. Whether it is done to express grief or to enhance one’s appearance, the act of cutting brings harm to the body and goes against the Torah's command to protect and respect the sanctity of life.

When we engage in practices like piercing or other body modifications, we are stepping outside the natural boundaries that God has set for us. Just as the Torah prohibits cutting the flesh for the dead, it logically follows that we should avoid cutting the flesh for any other reason. Once a cut is made, it is a violation of the body’s integrity, and this act, whether consciously or not, symbolizes death.

Spiritual Consequences of Piercings

The Torah’s prohibition against bodily mutilation is not just about the physical act itself—it is also about the spiritual implications of defiling the body. The human body is a sacred vessel, and by altering it, we disrupt the natural balance and purity that God has established. Cutting the body for adornment or beauty opens the door to further disregard for the sanctity of life and the holiness of the body.

By piercing or cutting our bodies, we are essentially disregarding the Torah's command to maintain the sanctity of life. The spiritual consequences of this are profound: we lose sight of the divine purpose of the body and the importance of keeping it whole and unmarked.

Conclusion: Preserving the Body as God Intended

As Jews, we are called to honor and uphold the commandments of the Torah, which guide us in living holy and righteous lives. One of the key aspects of this holiness is the respect we show for our bodies, the divine vessels that carry the spark of God within us. The Torah’s prohibitions against cutting the flesh serve as a reminder that our bodies are not ours to alter—they belong to God, and we are entrusted with the responsibility of keeping them intact and pure.

While a nose ring may seem like a small and insignificant thing, it represents a larger issue of how we view our bodies in relation to God’s commandments. Cutting the body for any reason, whether for mourning or adornment, violates the sanctity of life and the divine plan for our physical being.

For these reasons, I believe it is important to avoid any form of body piercing or modification, in accordance with the Torah’s laws. We must preserve the wholeness of our bodies as God intended and resist the urge to conform to practices that defile the sanctity of life.