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


A Jewish convert’s hunger strike for Israeli citizenship

David Ben Moshe is Orthodox, married to an Israeli, and a father of two, but that is not enough for Israel's Interior Ministry. So he protested.

 David Ben Moshe hunger strike.

David Ben Moshe: A Hunger Strike for Israeli citizenship

I love Israel and will always defend it, but the treatment that I have received since applying for citizenship, my automatic right as a Jew, is an embarrassment.

 David Ben Moshe

Amar’e Stoudemire says he’s ready for a ‘shidduch’ and to remarry

Stoudemire, who has played for the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns, converted to Judaism while living in Israel in August 2020.

 Amar'e Stoudemire attends the Pegasus World Cup Championship horse racing event in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Jan. 23, 2021.

Jewish conversion debate ignores actual converts - opinion

With all the disputes about the conversion process, we have not paid enough attention to the people.

 The Conference of European Rabbis' (CER) Standing Committee discussing a conversion bill proposed by Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana in Munich on November 22, 2021.

New organization formed to give support to Jewish converts

Ohev Ger will seek to give a framework of support to converts who can feel isolated after their conversion and educate communities as to how best to assist those who have converted.

A WOMAN seeking to convert to Judaism appears before Rabbinic Court in Jerusalem

Ugandan Yosef Kibita denied right to aliyah again

Kibita converted to Judaism in 2008 in Uganda under the auspices of the US Conservative Movement.

YOSEF KIBITA reading from the Torah in the synagogue at Kibbutz Ketura, his adopted home for the last three years.

Gov't optimistically embracing conversion reform - opinion

There is good reason to believe that should the new legislation pass, immigrants who are seeking conversion will have a new avenue that is transparent, straightforward and simple to convert.

An ITIM Giyur K’halacha conversion being conducted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Proposed conversion reforms a 'spiritual disaster' - Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi

The proposed reforms would allow municipal chief rabbis to do conversions, making it easier for people of Jewish descent who are not Jewish.

 CHIEF ASHKENAZI Rabbi David Lau.

Tensions mount in coalition over conversion legislation

The issue is important to Yisrael Beytenu and Yesh Atid, and MKs from those parties will now advance private members' bills next week.

 Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana attends a plenary session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, July 26, 2021.

Conversion legislation pushed off, minister close to advancing govt bill

MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beytenu had submitted her own bill to the committee which would allow municipal chief rabbis and deans of Hesder yeshivas to establish their own conversion courts.

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS Minister Matan Kahana address the Knesset plenum last month.