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.

|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
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

In her book Heart of a Stranger, Buchdahl tells the story of her life. She ends each chapter with a homily applying a sacred text to contemporary faith, values, and behavior.

|ByGLENN C. ALTSCHULER
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

One organizer told a rabbi in her conversion interview: "You can’t force me to stop being Jewish any more than I can be forced to convert to Christianity or Islam.”

|ByJONATHAN LIEBERMAN
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

This identification of Israel with the Almighty is so profound that Shavuot was transformed into the concept of a spiritual marriage between God and the Jewish people.

|ByNEVILLE TELLER

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.

David Ben Moshe: A Hunger Strike for Israeli citizenship

I love Israel and will always defend it, but the treatment that I have received since applying for citizenship, my automatic right as a Jew, is an embarrassment.

JANUARY 6, 2022ByDAVID BEN MOSHE
David Ben Moshe

Amar’e Stoudemire says he’s ready for a ‘shidduch’ and to remarry

Stoudemire, who has played for the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns, converted to Judaism while living in Israel in August 2020.

DECEMBER 30, 2021BySHIRA HANAU/JTA
Amar'e Stoudemire attends the Pegasus World Cup Championship horse racing event in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Jan. 23, 2021.

Jewish conversion debate ignores actual converts - opinion

With all the disputes about the conversion process, we have not paid enough attention to the people.

DECEMBER 23, 2021ByDAVID M. WEINBERG
The Conference of European Rabbis' (CER) Standing Committee discussing a conversion bill proposed by Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana in Munich on November 22, 2021.