Conversion to Judaism

Making it official: Inside the Nativ program training IDF soldiers to 'join the tribe'

Nativ began with a Trustee Committee in 1998 and was adopted as a military program in 2000. To date, over 58,000 soldiers have begun the program, and close to 20,000 have completed conversion.

RAISING THE flag before prayer services in the field.
Kidist Mengistu, a lone soldier from Ethiopia, was surprised by her mother at the Western Wall for bat mitzvah ceremony, Februrary 23, 2026.

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

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


To be a rabbi: How one Abayudaya hopes to help his community

‘We want recognition so we can say we are part of the Jewish nation’

Asiimwe Rabbin Rivbin hopes to serve as a rabbi in the Abayudaya community in Uganda.

Conversion in Israel: The real story

Dispelling myths and highlighting the real issues of the conversion process in the State of Israel.

ISRAEL’S CHIEF Rabbinate Council, 1959. At its helm sit Ashkenazi chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog (center, at left) and Sephardi chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim (at right).

Karlie Kloss: Converting to Judaism wasn’t just about Josh Kushner

The couple dated for seven years before marrying.

Joshua Kushner and Karlie Kloss at the Met Gala, May 6, 2019

Bennett: Break Chief Rabbinate monopoly to solve conversion ‘time bomb’

New Right leader says those who are overly stringent on performing Jewish conversion ‘are causing massive damage to Israel and Judaism, blames ‘haredi’ Chief Rabbinate for the problem.

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a reception hosted by the Orthodox Union in Jerusalem ahead of the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem, May 14, 2018

Supermodel Karlie Kloss confirms converting to Judaism to marry Kushner

Supermodel said in interview she has 'joined the tribe.'

Model Karlie Kloss poses after the Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2019 collection show for fashion house Dior in Paris, France, January 21, 2019

Fearing court will accept Reform, Conservative converts, gov't seeks delay

“Worried that the decision by the High Court will confirm that there is more than one way to be a Jew.”

Female rabbi being ordained (illustration)

Transformational journey

Angel Himsel’s memoir of her conversion to Judaism is a beautiful read.

ANGELA HIMSEL found herself ‘turning spiritually south, toward Jerusalem.’

Answering ‘amen’

She was raised Protestant, became Catholic, then joined the Orthodox [Eastern] Church when she began “looking for more theology.”

RUTH ELLEN HANSEN YAHR FROM MILWAUKEE TO SAFED, 1995

Conversion authority head resigns in protest over ‘wronging of converts’

Rabbi Yitzhak Peretz submitted his letter of resignation earlier this week.

ACTIVISTS TAKE part in a demonstration in Jerusalem in July against legislation that would have strengthened the Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly over conversion in Israel

Court orders Interior Ministry to register private Orthodox convert as Jew

The Interior Ministry has defied the spirit of a High Court of Justice ruling for 18 months by refusing to register as Jewish a woman who converted in a private, Orthodox rabbinical court.

The Western Wall in Jerusalem