"Chai."

Getting a tattoo is a big decision.

I know. I’ve got several. When people see them - four ravens and/or crows, two totems, one family crest, a bit of Latin, a Haida myth, a New Order lyric, family member initials - they’re often surprised.  Tattoos can be controversial.

For many Jews, tattoos are even more controversial. Some note that Jewish law - as decreed in Leviticus 19:28 - strictly forbids tattoos.  The human body is effectively on loan from God, and it is not to be immutably altered, according to this interpretation of the Torah: “You shall not...incise any marks on yourselves.”

Notwithstanding that, tattoos are now pretty common among modern Jews, especially in Israel. For the third time in less than two years, I’m heading to Israel on a press mission - and I can assure you: Leviticus has fully lost the divine debate about getting inked.

But still: when a Jew decides to get a tattoo, like most of us, it is no small thing. It’s something they generally aren’t doing on a whim.

Benjamin Miller is 50-year-old former public servant living in Toronto. He decided he wanted a small Star of David tattoo, with the word “chai” at the centre of it. In Hebrew, “chai” isn’t very controversial. It’s not a swear word. It means “life.” (Full disclosure: I’ve got the symbol for “life goes on” on my right wrist. Forgot about that one.)

The Star of David, also known as the Magen David, shouldn’t be very controversial, either. It represents Jewish identity - and unity, and protection by God. Like “chai,” the Star of David doesn’t really have a specific religious meaning.

But it’s really, really important, to Jews. It’s indelibly associated with Jewishness and the Jewish state - from their national flag (which is wonderful) to the yellowed ones the Nazis forced Jews to wear in World War II (which weren’t).

So, perhaps with all that in mind, Benjamin Miller went to a Toronto tattoo place to get a little Star of David with “life” in the middle of it.

The tattoo artist refused to do it.  Refused.

[To read more, subscribe here]