Conversion to Judaism

Former Moscow rabbi says he rebuffed proposal to convert Russians discussed in Epstein recording

The proposal sought to bring converted Russians to Israel as a demographic strategy aimed at preserving Israel's Jewish majority.

|ByASAF ELIA-SHALEV/JTA
Ehud Barak, a former prime minister of Israel, announces the establishment of a new political party that he will lead, in Tel Aviv, June 26, 2019.
An Argentine oleh (new immigrant to Israel) who made aliyah 20 years ago celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in Eilat after a long period of conversion.

Argentinian oleh celebrates his Bar Mitzvah, conversion to Judaism 20 years after making aliyah

Ariel Weintraub, an Argentinian-Israeli who has been living in the country for the past 20 years, decided to fully convert to Judaism after connecting with his Jewish coworkers.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Spanish flag flutters in the air as the capital of Spain is seen from the observatory deck of Madrid's city hall August 7, 2013.

I traveled from Israel to Spain to convert new Jews. A single ‘Sababa’ made me feel safer - opinion

No matter how unjustly countries treat Israel and their local Jewish populations, we traveling mohalim must make the journey to ensure our most sacred tradition continues, even on the hardest days.

|ByRABBI HAYIM LEITER/JTA
Converts share their stories in a discussion circle at the Under Your Wings event.

Under Your Wings: A gathering to celebrate, support Israel's converts to Judaism

The evening offered a rare chance for converts to come together, share their stories, and celebrate the blessings of their journeys.

|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN

Conversion in Israel: The tug of war between the state, rabbinate

How did conversion to Judaism get caught in up the midst of an Israeli political controversy over the Law of Return and identifying who is a Jew?

AUGUST 27, 2022ByRAPHAEL SHUCHAT
A WOMAN stands before the rabbinical court.

The journey from Jewish convert to accomplished artist, scribe

Neriah Israel's journey from South Africa to Dimona

JUNE 16, 2022ByBRADLEY MARTIN
Neriah Israel writing a page of a Sefer Torah scroll.

'Covenant': Creating a Jewish conversion spectrum - review

Turning some of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s ideas toward resolving the Jewish identity crisis

JUNE 11, 2022BySHUKI FRIEDMAN
REFORM JEWS hold up broken hearts as they demonstrate outside the Knesset in 1997 against pending legislation by ultra-religious parties to tighten their grip on conversion issues.

The irony of Jewish conversion in Israel - opinion

"They want mass conversion. This won’t happen," Rabbi Yosef said about the deputy religious affairs minister.

JUNE 8, 2022BySETH FARBER
SEPHARDI CHIEF RABBI Yitzhak Yosef speaks out at a rally in Jerusalem against conversion and kashrut reforms, in January.

An ancient Jewish curse to keep grave robbers away revealed on tomb

A convert to Judaism warned away tomb raiders by vowing to curse anybody who would dare to open his grave.

JUNE 2, 2022ByJUDITH SUDILOVSKY
Jacob the convert's ancient Jewish curse inscription

Basketball player who converted to Judaism with a Conservative rabbi denied Israeli citizenship

Rabbi Michael Beals who supervised Armstrong’s conversion called the decision by Israel’s government “racist” as Armstrong is Black.

FEBRUARY 10, 2022BySHIRA HANAU/JTA
Jared Armstrong, center, appealed the Israeli Interior Ministry's denial of his application for Israeli citizenship but his appeal was denied Wednesday.

Top British Jewry group tells Smotrich to leave Europe, calls him 'disgrace'

In a tweet, in Hebrew, the Board of Deputies said that it rejected Smotrich’s “disgusting ideology that promotes hatred.”

FEBRUARY 9, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Head of the Religious Zionist Party MK Bezalel Smotrich gives a press statement at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on May 26, 2021.

Kahana submits Jewish conversion reform bill to Knesset

Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana called his conversion reform plan a "historic opportunity that cannot be missed."

JANUARY 12, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Chief rabbis gathered to discuss reforms to the conversion and kashrut system

US Jewish convert ends hunger strike after gov’t promises citizenship by 2023

David Ben Moshe has ended his hunger strike to be recognized as an Israeli citizen after being assured he will receive full citizenship by January 2023.

JANUARY 11, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
David Ben Moshe hunger strike.

A Jewish convert’s hunger strike for Israeli citizenship

David Ben Moshe is Orthodox, married to an Israeli, and a father of two, but that is not enough for Israel's Interior Ministry. So he protested.

JANUARY 9, 2022ByPEGGY CIDOR
David Ben Moshe hunger strike.