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


Conversion crisis: Who decides who is a Jew? - opinion

The real struggles have not been about who is a Jew but about who will decide who is a Jew

A SOLDIER in an IDF conversion course interacts with children praying at their kindergarten in 2013.

Orthodox rabbis support conversion decision - comment

This move, we believe, will help foster in Israel a less coercive Orthodoxy and worldwide will embrace all of our people as part of Am Yisrael, with a shared past and shared future.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews seen in the street of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim on a rainy day, January 18, 2021.

Conversion challenge must be solved by Knesset - opinion

Half a century of legal precedents left the HCJ with virtually no room for discretion.

THE KNESSET building in Jerusalem holds one of the world’s smallest legislatures.

Non-halachic conversion can undermine Jewish society in Israel - opinion

Multiple, non-halachic conversions will create a deep, irrevocable gap between the Jewish community of the State of Israel.

AMERICAN AND ISRAELI Orthodox and Conservative Jews protest in 2016 outside the Chief Rabbinate offices in Jerusalem against the Rabbinate’s disqualification of American rabbis’ conversions.

Israel's conversion ruling: What it does and doesn’t do

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS: The ruling, as significant as it may be, does not solve the question that has dogged the country since its establishment: Who is a Jew?

PEOPLE WALK past the Religious Services Ministry office in Jerusalem. At most, this week’s High Court ruling widens the scope of who can become an Israeli through immigration.

Flaw of Return: Why Israel should stop offering automatic citizenship

MIDDLE ISRAEL: The Law of Return has lost its historic rationale and should now be replaced with a naturalization process much like the rest of the world’s nations.

A VARIETY of kippot are displayed for sale at a stall in Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda market.

As Orthodox rabbis, we support the court's conversion ruling - opinion

The Supreme Court decision has the potential to bring us closer, allowing Jews from all streams to feel part of the destiny of Am Yisrael.

High Court of Justice May 3, 2020

Letters to the Editor March 3, 2021: Preaching to the converted

Readers of The Jerusalem Post have their say.

Letters

Jewish NGOs celebrate 'long overdue' Israeli conversion decision

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said the decision "reflects the diversity and vibrancy of Jewish life in Israel and around the world.”

A screen capture of the live stream feed from a hearing at the High Court of Justice

Court rules: Recognize Reform, Conservative conversions done in Israel for citizenship

High Court historic decision enrages the Chief Rabbinate and Orthodox political parties.

SUPREME COURT justices arrive for a session at the Supreme Court earlier this week.