Contemporary Issues with Judaism and Conversion

In Israel some believe that Orthodox control of conversion is impeding efforts to convert immigrants from the Former Soviet Union.

Excerpts from the Reform Movement's Guidelines for Working with Prospective Converts

Rabbi Uziel holds that as long as the judges first attempt to break off a projected marriage to a non-Jew, they are obligated to convert the non-Jew, even if the motivation is marriage.

Assimilation has created a profound disconnect between Jews and their religion that deeply disturbs the author and impels him to experiment with new solutions.

The author proposes that only an active program that combines inreach to "faithless" Jews and outreach to unchurched spiritual seekers can revitalize the Jewish community.

If we are to develop a formula for conversion acceptable to all the Jewish movements, everyone will need to take a step toward the middle.

Differences between the movements grow out of more basic disagreements in philosophy and belief.