Conversion

A Global Conversion

The convert was in New South Wales. And the rabbis on the beit din were in Georgia, Tennessee, New York and New Mexico.

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?

The Do’s and Don’ts of Talking to Converts

Tips from a Jew by choice who's heard it all.

Funny, You Don’t Look Jewish

An Ashkenazic Reform Korean rabbi explores her identity.

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.