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

Amar’e Stoudemire shares his Jewish journey

Amar'e described his journey from young scholar to aspiring ‘prophet’ of Judaism

DECEMBER 23, 2020ByGABE FRIEDMAN/JTA
Former NBA player Amar'e Stoudemire smiles during a basketball workshop for youth entitled "Amar'e Stoudemire 2016 Basketball Peace Camp", August 8, 2016.

How Bible study in a Catholic monastery led one New Yorker to make aliyah

"As someone who takes the Bible literally, I couldn’t not become a Jew."

DECEMBER 17, 2020ByABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN
Robert Aiello with his wife, Leslie

I converted through Reform Judaism. Stop telling me I’m not a Jew.

After years of studying, learning and teaching, I finally achieved the goal I’d had from the age of 16.

OCTOBER 30, 2020ByJESSY KUEHNE/JTA
Jessy Kuehne

Let’s show more appreciation to Jews-by-choice

We as Jews need to do far more to welcome Jews-by-choice into our midst and show them a level of appreciation and esteem for the courageous path they have undertaken.

MAY 27, 2020ByMICHAEL FREUND
CELEBRATING ON Kibbutz Ga’ash in 2019. On this festival we honor the sacrifice of Ruth the Moabite in tying her fate with the Nation of Israel.

The state of conversion in Israel

The Conversion Authority is reluctant to perform conversions.

MAY 27, 2020BySHERYL ABBEY
A CANDIDATE for conversion, having successfully passed, tearfully recites the ‘Shema’ prayer.

The Giyur K’Halacha option

Giyur K’Halacha has become Israel’s leading alternative conversion court network.

MAY 27, 2020BySHERYL ABBEY
YAEL BELENKY, manager at Giyur K’Halacha

In Ruth’s footsteps: Israeli converts tell their stories

The Magazine and Giyur K’Halacha, Israel’s leading nongovernmental conversion court, present personal stories of Israelis who have recently converted to Judaism.

MAY 27, 2020BySHERYL ABBEY
FORMER JEWISH Agency chairmain Natan Sharansky speaks at an ITIM Annual Conversion Conference with Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch (to his right) and Farber (to his far right).

Increased numbers of non-Jews attending synagogue services

This trend is particularly interesting considering “the long history of antisemitism in Germany and Poland" said Ohr Torah Stone President

JANUARY 31, 2020ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
LR: Rabbi Yehoshua Ellis (Warsaw); Rabbi Oriel Zaretsky (Warsaw); Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein, director of Training and Placement at the OTS Straus-Amiel institute; Rabbi Avigdor Bergauz (Munich); Rabbi Eliahu Birnbaum, director of OTS Straus-Amiel institute; Rabbi Yehuda Pushkin (Stuttgart); and Rabbi

To be a rabbi: How one Abayudaya hopes to help his community

‘We want recognition so we can say we are part of the Jewish nation’

NOVEMBER 19, 2019ByILANIT CHERNICK
Asiimwe Rabbin Rivbin hopes to serve as a rabbi in the Abayudaya community in Uganda.

Conversion in Israel: The real story

Dispelling myths and highlighting the real issues of the conversion process in the State of Israel.

JULY 24, 2019ByRABBI DR. RAPHAEL SHUCHAT
ISRAEL’S CHIEF Rabbinate Council, 1959. At its helm sit Ashkenazi chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog (center, at left) and Sephardi chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim (at right).