Conversion to Judaism

IDF lone soldiers mark bar and bat mitzvah at Western Wall, including some family surprises

The event was organized by Ach Gadol (Big Brother for Lone Soldiers), a nonprofit that provides one-on-one mentorship and community support for soldiers serving in Israel without immediate family.

Kidist Mengistu, a lone soldier from Ethiopia, was surprised by her mother at the Western Wall for bat mitzvah ceremony, Februrary 23, 2026.
Ehud Barak, a former prime minister of Israel, announces the establishment of a new political party that he will lead, in Tel Aviv, June 26, 2019.

Former Moscow rabbi says he rebuffed proposal to convert Russians discussed in Epstein recording

An Argentine oleh (new immigrant to Israel) who made aliyah 20 years ago celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in Eilat after a long period of conversion.

Argentinian oleh celebrates his Bar Mitzvah, conversion to Judaism 20 years after making aliyah

A Spanish flag flutters in the air as the capital of Spain is seen from the observatory deck of Madrid's city hall August 7, 2013.

I traveled from Israel to Spain to convert new Jews. A single ‘Sababa’ made me feel safer - opinion


Israel's High Court recognizes non-orthodox conversions for citizenship

Supreme Court President Esther Hayut said there was "no clear reason" to deny converted Jews the rights afforded by the Law of Return

 President of the Supreme Court of Israel Esther Hayut and all fifteen justices assemble to hear petitions against the reasonableness standard law in the High Court in Jerusalem, on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

Gazan who escaped to Israel, converted to Judaism shares his story

The amazing story of the Gazan who escaped to Israel and converted to Judaism.

 Dor Shachar escaped life in Gaza, and is now living in Rishon LeZion.

Would Ruth, a convert, be good enough for Israeli citizenship? - opinion

It’s time for a clear, predictable path to citizenship with an explicit list of requirements for converts wishing to live in Israel.

 INTERIOR MINISTER Moshe Arbel arrives for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.

Shavuot: 7 things converts can teach us about Judaism

Just as our sages learned about Jewish affirmations from Ruth, so I have found through my work with converts that we can learn much about Judaism from them.

 FOR MANY converts, the original impetus was not actually a Jewish partner. Pictured: Huppa in Cape Town, 1979.

Ukrainians trying to convert to Judaism in Israel face Kafkaesque trials

Yael and Aaron Agpov from Ukraine had tried to convert to Judaism in 2022, but then the war broke out. This, plus Israel's Kafkaesque bureaucracy, thrust them into uncertainty.

 THE AGPOV family with ITIM head Rabbi Seth Farber (L) after receiving Israeli citizenship at the Netanya Interior Ministry offices.

Condoms and tikkun olam: An Orthodox woman strives to aid sex workers in Prague

L’Chaim is an organization dedicated to helping sex workers in the Czech Republic.

 Yael Schoultz founded a group called L'Chaim, which counsels and supports sex workers.

Editor's Notes: Love the convert

As Jews in Israel and around the world read the Book of Ruth during the holiday of Shavuot, it is worth asking how beloved converts truly are today.

 THEN-JEWISH AGENCY CHAIRMAN Natan Sharansky speaks at a protest held outside the Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem, in 2016. The signs read ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ and ‘Judaism without coercion.’

Converting to Judaism in Israel is nearly impossible - ITIM report

The number applying for conversion in the last decade has been low but even among those who did apply, fewer than half were able to complete the process.

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews perform a brit mila in the ultra-orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem on November  9, 2014

NBA star Domantas Sabonis’ wife says he is converting to Judaism

The 26-year-old All-Star is in the process of converting to Judaism, according to his Jewish wife, Shashana Sabonis (née Rosen).

 Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) reacts after a play in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

Nativ: Helping IDF lone soldiers become halachically Jewish

The "Magazine" sat down with four young IDF soldiers who opened up about their reasons for why they chose to undergo conversion to Judaism.

 122 SOLDIERS graduating from the Nativ military conversion program celebrate at the Kotel, May 2022.