Conversion

Compromise reached over Mikveh law

As part of Knesset Law regarding ritual baths, 2-4 Reform and Conservative Mikvaot will be built.

Search for Truth: British Jamaican finds God in Torah and Israel

What made a British Jamaican convert to Judaism and make Aliyah?

In remote Madagascar, a new community chooses to be Jewish

121 people in Madagascar convert, viewing Judaism as a return to their roots and an overthrowing of last vestiges of colonialism.

Moving: Officer from Uzbekistan returns to Judaism

Watch: The emotional moment young daughter of a Jew in Uzbekistan officially completes conversion, after making Aliyah and enlisting.

'I wanted so badly to be Jewish'

Hundreds of converts from the Ami Ulpan network gather at Western Wall ahead of Shavuot.

Terminally ill man allowed to convert after years of struggle

After years of bureaucratic hardship, couple finally allowed to undergo Orthodox conversion, marry and make Aliyah.

Conversion ruling dents Chief Rabbinate's control of ritual

Supreme Court decision on Jewish conversion changes almost nothing, but down the line, it could change a lot.

High Court: Private conversions recognized for citizenship

Chief Rabbi slams giving official recognition to 'unsupervised pirate conversion industry,' MK Smotrich vows to draft a bill against it.

Many Palestinians, foreign workers trying to convert to Judaism

Knesset State Control Committee finds that 50% of requests to convert to Judaism come from foreign workers, Palestinians, infiltrators.

Report: Independent Conversion Courts Water Down Obligations

At least one panel of new conversion courts doesn't require declared obligation to observe Jewish commandments, reports Haaretz.

Leading Rabbis: We Only Recognize Rabbinate Conversion

Rabbis Dov Lior, Chaim Shteiner, Tzvi Yisrael Tau, Eitan Eisman and over 30 others oppose independent conversion court.

Top Rabbi: Conversion Panel to Prevent Intermarriage

Rabbi David Stav, head of Tzohar, notes that independent conversion committee will strengthen Israeli Jews by preventing assimilation.

Only 40% of Non-Jewish Immigrants Successfully Convert

Study on 20 years of data notes that conversion process of Jews from FSU has been a 'great failure' amid conversion controversy.

Rabbis Set Up 'Independent' Conversion Courts, Sans Rabbinate

A group of rabbis has set up a “competing” independent of Jewish Court of Law (Beit Din) which will exclusively handle conversions.

Watch: Celebrating Joining the Jewish Nation

Converts from France, who spent their final year of study at the seminary in Yakir, completed the process in a moving ceremony.

MK: Wrong Attitude on Conversion Could Tear Nation Asunder

MK Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) said he was satisfied with the decision to reform the conversion system.

From Taiwanese Christian to Religious Jew in Samaria

Chance encounter with French Jew on Taiwan taxi ride led Batsheva to Paris, lottery ticket led to conversion, then on to Eli in Samaria.

Bennett: I Will Represent Rabbi Riskin, if Needed

Education Minister Naftali Bennett slammed attempts to unseat Rabbi Shlomo Riskin as Efrat chief rabbi as 'unacceptable.'

Rabbinate Hints It May Not Renew Rabbi Riskin's Term

The Chief Rabbinate on Wednesday hinted that it was under strong pressure to remove Rabbi Shlomo Riskin as Chief Rabbi of Efrat

Poll: 86% of Israelis Want Their Children to Marry Jewish

New poll finds secular and religious alike want to continue the Jewish nation, amid disagreement over conversion strictness.

Conversion: 'Like Being an Orphan with a Large Family'

Author Ashirah Yosefah concludes the dramatic story of her conversion with a surprising revelation about her own family's history.

Surviving Terrorism - to Become a Jew

Despite surviving a terror attack, and attempts to put her off converting, Ashirah Yosefah explains how she finally made it to the mikvah.

From Canada to Jerusalem: A Story of Conversion

In Part I of a three-part interview with Arutz Sheva, the coauthor of Spark Ignited discusses her journey from New Brunswick to Jerusalem.

Chabad Rabbi: Thousands of Russian Jews Awaken to Their Roots

Rabbi Shmuel Kaminsky of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, discussed the mass Seder he presided over in a city where some fifty thousand Jews live.

Conversion Authority Visits with Bnei Menashe Immigrants

660 members of the Indian Bnei Menashe tribe immigrated to Israel in 2014, where they will undergo conversion by Israel's Chief Rabbinate.

French Convert with Jewish Father Dies Fighting for ISIS

Raphael Amar, 22, who converted to Islam four years ago, died last month fighting for ISIS. His father is a secular French Jew.

Troubled Jewish Hollywood Star Shia LaBeouf Goes Christian

Shia LaBeouf gets into new role by having tooth pulled, cutting face with knife, getting tattooed - and converting to Christianity.

Chetboun Lauds PM's 'Brave' Decision on Conversion

Jewish Home MK says Netanyahu 'preferred the unity of the Jewish people to the unity of the coalition'.

Exclusive to Arutz Sheva

What's the Solution to Israel's Conversion Controversy?

Dept. Minister of Religions, MK Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, says there is only one way to diffuse the crisis threatening to split the Jewish world.

World Rabbis Warn Israeli Converts Won't Be Recognized

Chief Rabbi David Lau meets with rabbis in London, who tell him controversial new conversion bill threatens to split Jewish world.

Watch: Hareidi Soldier's Surprise Reunion with Catholic Mother

Diego Tapia converted to Judaism; his mother and sister flew from Columbia as surprise for Nahal Hareidi completion ceremony.

Ex-South Lebanon Soldier and Family Convert to Judaism

Ovadia and Rachel Oved started their lives as refugees from Lebanon, but now are living as observant Jews in northern Israel.

Hatnua Backed Controversial Bills in Exchange for Conversion Law

Livni’s party agreed to back three controversial bills in exchange for govt. support for its own contested legislation.

Natalie Portman's Husband Converting to Judaism

French dancer/choreographer Benjamin Millepied said that becoming Jewish is ‘very important’ to him.

The Spinning Wheel

Pakistani Jew Tries to Restore Karachi Community

Man who recently discovered his maternal Jewish roots petitions Pakistani courts to have synagogue built and restore Jewish graves.

The Rabbi Avi Weiss Issue:Defending the Chief Rabbinate

'Conversion Bill' to be Discussed in Knesset Today

Controversial bill proposes the decentralization of the conversion process, allowance of local municipal Rabbinates to perform conversions

One Jew in a Million

Brazilian convert describes his journey to Judaism, his friends’ reactions, and his experience as the only Jew in a city of one million.

Jewish Communiy Collapse Disorder

Report: New Coalition will Make Conversion 'Easier'

Wide-ranging changes are expected in the role Jewish law plays in the life of the state, and many religious Jews are worried

Rav Druckman: I've Signed 50,000 Conversions

Prime Minister meets Rav Haim Druckman, who is ending his term as Head of Conversion Array.

Campaign: If Children Are Not Jewish – Tell Them

A new campaign encourages openness with children about their non-Jewish status. Parents told: don’t hide the truth for ‘normalcy.’

Rabbi Rosen: ID Cards Don't Affect Halachic Jewishness

Tzomet founder Rabbi Israel Rosen welcomed Minister Yishai's decision to return the 'Jewish' designation to ID cards.

Memorial to be Held for Irgun Fighter who Converted to Judaism

Wednesday marks the anniversary of the death of Baruch Mizrahi, an Arab who converted to Judaism and fought in the Irgun resistance movement.

Beleagured Shas MK: R. Ovadia’s OK on IDF Converts Vindicates Me

MK Rabbi Chaim Amsalem (Shas), widely felt to be a party renegade, says he knew he was right all along in supporting IDF conversions to Judaism.

5,000th IDF Soldier to Convert to Judaism

The IDF remains a major impetus to conversion to Judaism, with the 5,000th conversion to take place soon.

Bill to Legalize All IDF Conversions

MKs Rotem and Ilatov propose a bill that would make all IDF conversions in past, present and future legal and non-annullable.

Debate Rages Over IDF Conversions

Scandal as state representative terms IDF conversions invalid, MKs call to resolve issue immediately.

Chief Rabbi Amar's Letter to The New York Times

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has found a way to reach Jews who otherwise would not hear his sermons: though the pages of The New York Times.

The Real Road to Jewish Unity

Discussion on Conversion Bill Postponed

Compromise reached on conversion bill issue and discussion will be postponed for six months.

Netanyahu Digs in on Conversion Law

Prime Minister threatens split in Jewish People if conversion law is passed; Chief Rabbi threatens split if it is not.

Chief Sephardic Rabbi: Bolt Coalition if Conversion Law Fails

Rabbi Amar thinks religious parties should say: pass the conversion law or we leave the government.

New Bill: Conversion According to Jewish Law

Knesset Law Committee OKs first step of new conversion-to-Judaism law – stipulating for 1st time that conversions must be according to Jewish Law.

Rancorous Exchanges Mark Conversion Bill Debate

Proposal to allow municipal Chief Rabbis to head rabbinical conversion courts was the subject of a stormy Knesset Law Committee session on Monday.

Laws to Reform Marriage, Conversion

Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) seeks to ease marriage, conversion for Israel's non-Jewish citizens.