Conversion to Judaism

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.

Converts share their stories in a discussion circle at the Under Your Wings event.
ANGELA BUCHDAHL in 2013. She was ordained as a cantor in 1999 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion before going on to become a rabbi.

'Yes! I am Jewish’: How a Jewish Korean princess was ordained as a rabbi - review

HOMES ARE severely damaged after the Hamas October 7 massacre in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. ‘Since October 7, many of my friends and colleagues here in Israel have wrestled deeply with their Jewish identity,’ says Orah.

When did Israel become so stringent with Jewish converts? - opinion

 READING FROM the Torah in synagogue: Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments. These commandments, like the Torah, offer stories, insights, values and actions as ways in to God

Shavuot's special significance: Recognizing those who converted to Judaism


Changes to the Law of Return won't affect majority of US Jews - exclusive

99% of US olim are Jewish or are first-degree relatives of Jews. In contrast, about 70% of former USSR olim aren't considered Jewish.

 New immigrants from USA and Canada arrive on a special " Aliyah Flight 2016" on behalf of Nefesh B'Nefesh organization, at Ben Gurion airport in central Israel on August 17, 2016,

Netanyahu had no reason to give in to Maoz's demands - editorial

Netanyahu did not have to compromise his own beliefs and cave in to each of Maoz’s demands – in fact, he could have formed a stable coalition without him.

Noam Party leader Avi Maoz poses for a picture at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 19, 2021.

An Evangelical’s journey to Judaism, Israel – and love of soccer

Frankie McLean, who for decades has been known as Sarit Edri, recently shared her incredible and impressive journey to Judaism and Israel. Now she's returned to soccer.

 WITH FAMILY.

The Zionist essence: Not political, not religious, just a path home

Zionism is a path toward home. Zionism has no political adherence. It is neither a calling for expansion nor a religious movement.

 YAEL ROZENMAN-ISMAEL (speaking at Jerusalem’s Begin Center): Zionism is a path toward home.

Israel must be open home to all Jews, Lapid tells American Jewish leaders

Lapid on Wednesday afternoon met with representatives of 50 Jewish organizations from all denominations at the office of the United Jewish Appeal in New York.

 Prime Minister Yair Lapid meets with US Jewish community leaders in New York on September 21, 2022

Who is a Jew? 70% of Jewish Israelis say patrilineal descent doesn't count

The poll is the IDI's biennial statistical report and serves as an in-depth look at the balance between religion and state that is so central to Israel and Israeli society.

Israeli police officers clash with Ultra Orthodox Jewish men during a protest against the enforcement of coronavirus emergency regulations, in the Ultra Orthodox jewish neighborhood of Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, October 4, 2020

Are too many Germans converting to Judaism? - analysis

In a DW column titled “Why the increasing number of converts is a problem for Judaism,” Avitall Gerstetter charged that too many people in Germany convert for the wrong reasons.

The German flag is pictured at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, November 7, 2017

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?

 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

 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

 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.