Tefillin on an immodest tattoo

Holiness of tefillin

Question

I have a particularly immodest tattoo, and now that I have repented, I wonder if it is permissible for me to wear tefillin on the tattoo?

Answer

It is not permissible to wear tefillin on an immodest tattoo. However, it is recommended to invest the necessary resources and time to have the tattoo removed. There is a reliable not-for-profit organization for tattoo removal called Tattoos.off@gmail.com, which removes tattoos as a public service; you only have to pay to cover the expenses. Although I am not familiar with their specific location, you can verify it. In the meantime, you can cover the tattoo with lines by painting over it with an Artline permanent marker to conceal the immodest image, and then wear tefillin. Whenever the lines fade, they should be reapplied to conceal the tattoo again.

Source

Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 28; Yoreh De'ah 180); Betzel Hachochmah (Volume V, Chapters 81-82).

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