Defying High Court, the Israeli Army Still Presses non-Jewish Soldiers to Convert
Soldiers continue to be approached regarding the army's pre-conversion course, regardless of their interest in participating
Jewish conversion
Israeli High Court Allows DNA Testing to Prove Judaism
Petition filed by Avigdor Lieberman, Yisrael Beitenu and several individuals asking for the DNA testing to prove Judaism to be disallowed is struck down
After Retracting Initial Data, Israel Reveals: More Than One-third of Recent Immigrants Were ‘Not Jewish’
The revised data show 61% of Russian immigrants arriving since 2012 were classified as not Jewish, compared to fewer than 5% of U.S. immigrants
These Israelis Are Breaking the Silence on Getting Married in Israel
Fed up with ‘humiliating’ treatment at the hands of the Chief Rabbinate, Russian-speaking Israelis are going public with their grievances
Immigration to Israel Is on the Rise Thanks to These 'non-Jews'
Two out of every three immigrants to Israel come from either Russia or Ukraine, but most aren't recognized as Jewish – which makes things like marrying, starting a family and getting buried a problem
Israel Again Bars Colombian Children From Visiting Their Jewish-Israeli Mom
Sarah Debora Meyer’s teenage daughters were deported after arriving to the country last November because the ministry said they didn’t have the necessary visas
Israel's Rabbinical Courts Begin to Recognize DNA Tests, Potentially Opening Gateway to Proving Jewishness
'Scientists are reluctant to deal with this since it's reminiscent of what Nazis did,' says researcher whose work paved path for use of DNA testing as proof of Jewish heritage
'Shabbat Has Brought So Much Meaning Into My Life:' Karlie Kloss on Her Conversion to Judaism
Supermodel says she didn't only convert for husband Josh Kushner, but for their shared future
Most Israelis Don’t Want Chief Rabbinate Deciding for Them Who Is a Jew, Survey Finds
Only 32 percent of Israeli Jews want to keep the Rabbinate's monopoly over conversions intact, yet more than half would not allow their child to marry a non-Jew
Opinion Israel's False Messiah of Religious Freedom Just Brought Down Netanyahu. It's Hilarious
I congratulate Avigdor Lieberman for bringing down Netanyahu. And thank him for giving me a good laugh for pretending he's a champion of religious freedom and a fighter against Jewish fundamentalism
Israel's Top Court to Hear Test Case for Recognizing Emerging Jewish Communities
Conservative-Masorti movement petitions High Court so that a Ugandan convert to Judaism be allowed to remain in Israel under the Law of Return
Jeff Tweedy Dishes on Jewish Conversion, the Next Wilco Album and Why He Loves His Rabbi
The Wilco frontman was not raised Jewish, but says he converted after a promise he made to his son
Opinion Does Racism Now Define Jewish Identity in Israel?
It's not clear that Israel is more racist these days. But when religious authorities reinforce a race-based Jewish identity, and Netanyahu legitimizes Kahane's heirs, we've got a different problem
Israeli Rabbinate Accused of Using DNA Testing to Prove Jewishness
'It is really terrifying thinking where this could lead,' advocate warns. 'Judaism is not about race and blood, as our worst enemies have claimed'
Jews of Uganda Are Torn Apart Over a Bitter Sibling Rivalry
Tales of corruption, sectarianism, and a family dispute are renting Uganda's Abayudaya Jewish Community
Israel Rejects Citizenship Bid of African-American Convert Married to Israeli Woman
David Ben Moshe was converted by an Orthodox rabbi in Baltimore in 2017, but his attempt to make aliyah to Israel has been rejected because he didn’t subsequently spend 9 months among local Jewish community in Maryland
These Two Girls Were Thrown Out of Israel When They Came to Visit Their Orthodox Convert Mom
Colombian sisters, ages 15 and 12, were detained for 8 hours at Ben-Gurion Airport before being deported in November. ‘This is not the way Jews should be treating Jews,’ fumes their stepfather
Recent Sephardic Converts Revive Jewish Life in Northern Brazil
Inspired by their new-found Sephardic Jewish roots, scores of newly converted Jews are erasing the taboo that kept their ancestors from proclaiming their faith
Another Nail in the Coffin for Conversion Reform in Israel as Top Court Set to Freeze Initiative
High Court approved Israeli government's request for a six-month delay to plan that would have stripped Chief Rabbinate of its power
'Ivanka's Rabbi' Makes the Cut: Israel Caves and Reveals Lists of Recognized Overseas Rabbis
Though names of rabbis who can perform marriages still kept under wraps, Rabbinate's list of those who can grant divorces and handle conversions made public – including rabbi who oversaw Ivanka's conversion
Israel's Chief Rabbinate 'Cements Monopoly Over Conversions' After Deal With European Orthodox Rabbis
Chief Rabbinate to stop sending Israeli rabbis to perform conversions in Europe. In return, European Orthodox rabbis won't recognize conversions performed in Israel in private courts that Rabbinate doesn't recognize
Confirmed: Israeli Chief Rabbinate Does Keep a Secret List of Approved Rabbis From Abroad
Despite repeated denials, Haaretz obtained an internal document confirming Israel's top religious institution maintains a list of approved rabbis whose certification of conversion and marriage makes the cut
Marilyn Monroe's Jewish Prayer Book Goes Up for Auction
Monroe converted to Judaism in 1956 prior to her marriage to Jewish-American writer Arthur Miller. The prayer book was previously put up for auction in 2017 and went unsold
There's a Crisis Between U.S. Jewry and Israel, Says Jewish-American Journalist Thomas Friedman
'You can't tell American Jews: We want you to come to Israel, but your form of Jewish-religious expression is unacceptable to us,' the Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times columnist tells Israeli weekly Makor Rishon
In First, Court Forces Israel to Recognize Jewish Conversion of Woman by Private Rabbinical Court
Ruling comes after Interior Ministry refused to register woman as Jewish because she converted via a rabbinical court that operates outside the framework of the state-sanctioned system, controlled by the Chief Rabbinate
From Dissident to Establishment As Sharansky Steps Down From Jewish Agency, a Look at His Legacy
His time at the Agency will probably be remembered more for what he didn’t accomplish than what he did, at the Western Wall and on Israel’s conversion policy
Supermodel Karlie Kloss Engaged to Joshua Kushner, Converts to Judaism
The runway darling is set to marry the brother of Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, but the pair doesn't seem to be fans of the president
Israeli religious-Zionist and ultra-Orthodox Rabbis Unite Against New Conversion Bill
At rare Jerusalem gathering, members of disparate streams agree on one thing: The Chief Rabbinate must not lose its monopoly over conversions
This Filipino Migrant Couple Came to Israel for Work, Fell in Love With Judaism and Converted
Conversion is a controversial issue within the deeply Catholic Filipino community. But the Lopez family hope that by converting they will safeguard the future of their children in Israel
Citing Racism, Israeli Lawmakers Slam Immigration Officials for Rejecting Ugandan Jews
'Do you have special criteria for black converts?' MK asks Interior Ministry at Knesset session on difficulties faced by Jewish converts wanting to move to Israel