Jews with tattoos: a post October 7 trend

Since October 7, Brentan Wolf, a Jewish tattoo artist in Melbourne, has been busy. He has noticed a steady increase in 18 to 25-year-old clients coming in to have Am Israel Chai (The people of Israel lives), a Star of David or Chai (life) inked onto their bodies.

Guy Shoval, an Israeli tattoo artist working at Fine Line Tattoos in Melbourne, has noticed a similar trend. He says many clients are female, first-timers who are choosing small but meaningful Jewish tattoos.

“They want a delicate thing to give them power, to give them their symbol, like a talisman.

“I think tattoos are very empowering. I see a lot of people that get a lot of comfort from them, and a lot of strength, and a feeling of belonging. There is definitely a big influx of Israelis and Jews getting tattoos in Hebrew or something to symbolise the land of Israel,” he says.