Conversion

Argentina's Sephardi chief rabbi reaffirms 100-year-old ruling on conversions, sparks controversy

A controversial ruling in Argentina reaffirms a 100-year-old conversion ban, fueling tensions between Orthodox and non-Orthodox movements.

JANUARY 21, 2026|ByJUAN MELAMED/JTA

Facade of Templo de la Libertad synagogue, Buenos Aires, Argentina, February 2, 2018

A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds up a portrait of him in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026.

Maduro has claimed Jewish ancestry, here is what is known - explainer

Maduro has cited Sephardic Jewish roots, but his own statements and the public record leave his Jewish status unconfirmed.

JANUARY 4, 2026|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

DESPITE BEING fully recognized by the Chief Rabbinate, many Orthodox converts are living in legal and social limbo, denied citizenship, as they face systemic bureaucracy and discrimination at the Interior Ministry. Here, women pray at the Western Wall.

Recognized by the rabbinate, Orthodox converts trapped in legal limbo over Israeli citizenship

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS: “Why do I have to keep proving myself? Am I a second-class Jew?” said an Orthodox converted Jewish woman in an interview with The Jerusalem Post.

DECEMBER 27, 2025|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN

Kai Balin on a journey to explore Orthodox Judaism

When is it enough?

"But the more I pushed toward Orthodoxy, the more I realized the driving force wasn’t spiritual longing, it was the pressure to satisfy an external standard."

DECEMBER 22, 2025|ByKAI BALIN

New organization formed to give support to Jewish converts

Ohev Ger will seek to give a framework of support to converts who can feel isolated after their conversion and educate communities as to how best to assist those who have converted.

DECEMBER 20, 2021ByJEREMY SHARON

A WOMAN seeking to convert to Judaism appears before Rabbinic Court in Jerusalem

Religious parties form joint campaign to fight government

Shas and United Torah Judaism will not be joining a right-wing rally planned for Tuesday in Tel Aviv by Likud and the Religious Zionist Party.

DECEMBER 4, 2021ByGIL HOFFMAN

The egalitarian section of the Western Wall last week with new wooden floorboards.

Gov't optimistically embracing conversion reform - opinion

There is good reason to believe that should the new legislation pass, immigrants who are seeking conversion will have a new avenue that is transparent, straightforward and simple to convert.

DECEMBER 4, 2021BySETH FARBER

An ITIM Giyur K’halacha conversion being conducted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Proposed conversion reforms a 'spiritual disaster' - Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi

The proposed reforms would allow municipal chief rabbis to do conversions, making it easier for people of Jewish descent who are not Jewish.

DECEMBER 3, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Tensions mount in coalition over conversion legislation

The issue is important to Yisrael Beytenu and Yesh Atid, and MKs from those parties will now advance private members' bills next week.

DECEMBER 1, 2021ByJEREMY SHARON

Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana attends a plenary session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, July 26, 2021.

HBO spotlights Amar’e Stoudemire’s journey from NBA to Orthodox Judaism

Former NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire discussed his relationship with Judaism on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” on Tuesday.

NOVEMBER 25, 2021BySHIRA HANAU/JTA

Amar'e Stoudemire attends the Pegasus World Cup Championship horse racing event in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Jan. 23, 2021.

Conversion legislation pushed off, minister close to advancing govt bill

MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beytenu had submitted her own bill to the committee which would allow municipal chief rabbis and deans of Hesder yeshivas to establish their own conversion courts.

NOVEMBER 21, 2021ByJEREMY SHARON