Gabriel Wolff

In this episode we explore a question that lies at the core of our work: the ethical considerations of tattoos for Jews. Is what we do guided by moral responsibility? What is our commitment to the text? And what is our commitment to the people who carry these words on their bodies?

The conversation moves from questions of cultural appropriation to Holocaust tattoos, and further into Zionism and the ways it has reshaped Jewish self understanding.

In this episode of our podcast, Gabriel of Hebrew Tattoos speaks with Anna Shraer about identity as something lived and carried in the body rather than formed only through thought or ideology. Starting from the idea of intergenerational trauma, Gabriel reflects on how Jewish history, memory, and experience are transmitted not only through stories or education but through bodily reactions, habits, sounds, rituals, and language. He discusses epigenetics, collective memory, and the limits of identity politics when identity is reduced to trauma alone, emphasizing that love, care, and positive communal experiences are also passed on across generations.

Miriam from Philadelphia told Anna during their conversation:
“I’ve seen so much brokenness in my life. When my father left, our family felt like it was held together by threads. It was painful, but I learned that small acts - like making dinner, listening, or being truly present in hard moments - can hold the pieces together. It’s what gave me hope when everything else seemed to fall apart.”