Conversion
From Looking Jewish to Being Jewish
Cultural anthropologists call it ‘going native’. You find yourself in the field as a participant observer of your host culture ...
Navigating Orthodox Conversion with a Feminist Sensibility
I was 75 percent Jewish, I told the Orthodox rabbi, my paternal grandparents and one maternal grandparent were all Jewish. “So, you’re not Jewish,” he replied.
What Is A Mikveh?
Whether you're dunking for conversion or for any other reason, here's what to expect at the ritual bath.
Do Jews By Choice Have to Identify Themselves?
What happens when visiting a synagogue that might not recognize your conversion.
Ask the Expert: Lost Conversion Certificate
How do I make aliyah without my conversion certificate?
History of Conversion
Judaism's openness to newcomers has varied, depending on how strong and self-confident Jews have felt.
The Mikveh’s Significance in Traditional Conversion
Immersion in the mikveh actualizes the transition between the convert's old identity and his or her new one as a Jew.
The Beit Din (Rabbinic Court) and Conversion
Final authority for conversion rests with the three-person beit din, which rules on a candidate's sincerity, knowledge, and potential for success as a Jew.
What Happens on the Day of Conversion
The particulars can vary, but typically it involves appearing before a Beit Din, immersing in a mikveh, and adopting a Hebrew name.