“What is the most Jewish thing someone can get tattooed on their body?”
As a proud Jew and someone who has and loves tattoos, this is a question I’ve thought about a lot. Beyond pomegranates (I already have some tattooed on my inner left ankle), I’ve pondered designs like Hebrew lettering, the badass Jewish figure Judith or an ornate havdalah spice box.
Thanks to Jewish actress Zoey Deutch, I have a new idea to add to the list: matzah ball soup!
In a recent interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” where Zoey was promoting her new movie “Something From Tiffany’s,” she shared her very Jewish tattoo with the audience.
“Every year for my birthday I like to get a tattoo — that’s my present to myself,” Deutch explained, adding, “A couple years ago, I was really into soup, and I got a matzah ball soup tattooed on my ankle.”
Zoey then proceeded to show the tattoo, which was indeed, a gorgeous, delicate and finely-shaded bowl of matzah ball soup. However, she did have a warning for the audience — though it has nothing to do with Jewish law or cultural feelings about tattoos. It’s actually something much sillier.
“I wanted it to be steaming hot soup instead of lukewarm soup. Because who likes lukewarm soup? No one. And the steam just sort of looks like hair,” Deutch said laughingly, while also clarifying that she doesn’t regret the tattoo whatsoever.
After Jimmy made the obvious joke about having a hairy ball on her leg, Zoey offered, “So for all of you out there who were considering getting your matzah ball soup tattoo: Keep the soup, hold the steam.”
Before moving on to other topics of discussion, Zoey also mentioned that her mom, actress Leah Thompson, adorably thought her daughter got the tattoo because she had eaten matzah ball soup from Greenblatt’s Deli when she was in labor with her. Zoey and Jimmy also joked about it being legal for Zoey to have a matzah ball soup tattoo because she is Jewish.
Ugh, that tattoo is adorable. Thanks for sharing it with us, Zoey!! Please keep us updated if you get any other Jewish tattoos.
