More than skin deep: Oct. 7 memorial tattoos
Campaigning for the release of their loved one, relatives of Liri Albag, one of 101 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, got the word “faith” tattooed on themselves, replicating one of Liri’s tattoos.
“After Liri’s boyfriend was injured in a terror attack, she tattooed the word ‘faith’ on her right hand, representing her faith that he would recover, get back to being himself and that he would walk again,” Shay, Liri’s sister, told JNS on Thursday.
“Three weeks after Liri was taken captive by Hamas on Oct. 7, we copied the same tattoo on ourselves, in the same place with the same font, because we believe with all our faith that Liri will return alive, healthy and that she will recover,” she added.
Israelis’ post-Oct. 7, 2023 tattoos, featuring Holocaust imagery. Credit: Courtesy.
Almog Meir Jan, one of four Hamas captives rescued by Israeli forces during “Operation Arnon” in June, got a tattoo on his leg representing a newspaper headline from that day.
According to a Bar-Ilan University study, the collective trauma experienced by Israelis on and since Oct. 7, 2023, has led to a wider phenomenon of memorial tattoos—tangible symbols of loss and emotional connection.
Ayelet Oreg, Hilit Erel-Brodsky and professor Orit Taubman-Ben-Ari from Bar-Ilan University’s Weisfeld School of Social Work employed Terror Management Theory to explore the phenomenon.
The researchers analyzed 250 images of memorial tattoos from social media, focusing on tattoos as expressions of collective grief and cultural identity, and how they assist individuals in dealing with trauma and existential terror.
Their analysis identified three main themes:
- Memorial tattoos as a means for validating cultural worldviews. Many tattoos involve Holocaust symbols and Israeli national imagery, as a reaction to the trauma and a connection to collective historical memories.
Examples include tattoos featuring yellow stars, the Star of David and the phrase “never again,” as well as the date 7.10.23 tattooed on the arm in a manner similar to identification numbers tattooed on Jews by the Nazis during the Holocaust.
Tattoos of Israeli-Jewish nationalist symbols. Credit: Courtesy.
Examples of Israeli-Jewish nationalist symbols include maps of Israel and representations of lions and lionesses that evoke themes of strength, courage and connection to the biblical tribe of Judah. Lions symbolize both the tribe and the Israel Defense Forces.
The tattoos are a means for individuals to boost self-esteem, resilience and national identity.
- Memorial tattoos as a means of strengthening self-esteem. Tattoos act as affirmations of personal and cultural identity, helping individuals cope with existential anxiety.
These include military memorial tattoos that commemorate battlefield experiences and Nova music festival massacre.
Many tattoos emerged among survivors and victims’ families following the Nova massacre, in the colors of the Nova logo and with inscriptions like “all of us” and “we shall dance again” to highlight unity, resilience, and determination to reclaim joy after tragedy.
One tattoo transformed the word “impossible” to “possible” to symbolize strength and survival, while another, featuring the phrase “release our hostages” along with a quote from visionary Theodore Herzl, reflects a belief in overcoming challenges.
- Memorial tattoos as a reflection of the desire to feel closer to the deceased and places affected by the war.
Memorial tattoos represent a way to honor loved ones and offer comfort in mourning.
Tattoo images like these include for instance lifelike representations of fallen soldiers.
One tattoo represented the police station in Sderot, heavily damaged during a battle between Hamas and Israeli security forces, while another symbolized Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where dozens of residents were massacred or kidnapped on Oct. 7.
Tattoos that honor and commemorate places or nature. Credit: Courtesy.
