Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more

ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 366

conversion to Judaism

Yosef Kibita poses with his new Israeli passport. (Courtesy Masorti Movement in Israel)
August 17, 2024, 7:55 am
After 7-year legal battle, Uganda Jewish man finally gets Israeli citizenship
Interior Ministry approves the bid of Yosef Kibita from the Abayudaya community after four conversions and years of roadblocks
By Jackie Hajdenberg
David Ben Avraham. (Courtesy)
March 29, 2024, 6:04 pm
Disturbing video shows Jewish convert fatally shot by IDF in West Bank posed no threat
Footage features David Ben Avraham obeying orders, standing with his hands up before reservist opened fire; interior minister posthumously grants him Israeli residency he long sought
By ToI Staff
Members of a conversion program meeting in New York City on December 21, 2023. Jasamine Hodge is seated in the center in a white sweater, with her fiancé Adir standing to her left. Seated on the right are Rabbis Adam Mintz and Avram Mlotek. (Courtesy of Hodge via JTA)
January 18, 2024, 5:09 pm
‘I just felt this urgency’: For some, Oct. 7 fuels dedication to becoming Jewish
In the Diaspora and Israel, rabbis see a surge in interest from potential converts since the Hamas-led onslaught, both from people already in the process as well as newcomers
By jacob gurvis
Jared Armstrong, right, playing professional basketball in Israel. (Courtesy of Armstrong via JTA)
August 26, 2023, 3:53 pm
Basketball player who fought for Israeli citizenship promotes Black-Jewish ties
Among his efforts, Jared Armstrong will run a free basketball clinic for middle schoolers in Philadelphia on Sunday that has Black and Jewish kids coming from as far as Connecticut
By jacob gurvis
Javier Milei, presidential candidate of the Liberty Advances coalition, raises his arms at his campaign headquarters after polling stations closed during primary elections in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
August 17, 2023, 2:42 am
Argentina’s far-right presidential frontrunner wants to become Jewish
Javier Milei studies Jewish topics regularly with Buenos Aires rabbi but admits observing Sabbath may be obstacle to converting; he also vows to move country’s embassy to Jerusalem
By Juan Melamed and Gabe Friedman
Rabbi Reuven Yaacobov speaks about the weekly Torah portion in this screenshot from a video posted on June 8, 2023. (YouTube screenshot/used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
June 16, 2023, 7:10 pm
Berlin rabbi fired amid mounting allegations he preyed on young women
Reuven Yaacobov’s May 31 termination by the Jewish community came shortly after the claims went public, but alleged victims say complaints have been swept under the rug for years
By Toby Axelrod
Illustrative: Newborn babies at the English Mission Hospital, in Nazareth, October 31, 2012. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)
April 30, 2023, 7:29 pm
High Court ends Orthodox monopoly on conversion of non-Jewish kids up for adoption
After 20-year legal battle, state agrees to examine each such adoption on a case-by-case basis instead of continuing blanket mandate
By ToI Staff
Sofia Richie at a wedding dress fitting, in a video published April 23, 2022. (YouTube screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
April 25, 2023, 10:42 am
Lionel Richie’s daughter Sofia marries Jewish music exec
Month after converting to Judaism, US model ties knot with Elliot Grainge, who runs independent label, is son of Universal Music CEO, and is self-proclaimed ‘nice Jewish boy’
By Gabe Friedman
Rabbi Mendy Cohen is dwarfed by 7-foot-1 Kings center Domantas Sabonis, who attended Chabad of Sacramento's Purim party on March 7. (Courtesy of Chabad of Sacramento via JTA)
April 14, 2023, 9:47 pm
NBA star Domantas Sabonis’s wife says he is converting to Judaism
Breaking the news in an interview this week, Shashana Sabonis says the all-star Sacramento Kings center is learning, keeping kosher and attended a Chabad Purim party this year
By Andrew Esensten
In Edinburgh, the couple found a welcoming Jewish community, where, Jennifer Andreacchi and Han Smith (left) said, many of the younger community members are queer. (Fern Photography/ via JTA)
January 31, 2023, 3:12 am
This young American couple had Scotland’s first-ever queer Jewish wedding
After meeting as teens in the spring of 2015, Han Smith and Jennifer Andreacchi eventually fell in love — with each other and Judaism — and converted together ahead of the huppah
By Alix Wall
Jewish immigrants fleeing from war zones in the Ukraine arrive at the immigration and absorption office, at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, on March 15, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
January 25, 2023, 8:22 pm
Israelis split on whether Diaspora Jews should weigh in on changes to Law of Return
Poll finds more people think foreign Jews should be part of debate on proposal to revoke ‘grandchild clause,’ but lots don’t know; most think such a move would cut immigration
By Judah Ari Gross
Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich shake hands after signing a coalition deal in Jerusalem on December 1, 2022. (Likud)
December 28, 2022, 8:26 pm
Religious Zionism deal: West Bank sovereignty, settlement growth, discrimination law
Clauses in the far-right party’s agreement with Likud provide for overriding the High Court, strengthening West Bank presence and bolstering Orthodox Judaism
By Jeremy Sharon
Illustrative: An Israeli rabbinical court reviews a conversion case. (Flash90)
November 28, 2022, 11:35 pm
Report: Likud agrees to pass bill to end recognition of non-Rabbinate conversions
Haredi parties said to demand measure to overturn High Court rulings that accepted conversions performed by other established communities; Reform movement slams proposal
By Judah Ari Gross
Chief Rabbi David Lau speaks at a Chabad event in New Jersey on November 20, 2022. (Screen capture: Chabad)
November 21, 2022, 7:37 pm
Chief rabbi calls for government to change immigration law to keep non-Jews out
Speaking at New Jersey event, David Lau echoes comments by Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who said incoming government could offer chance to ‘amend the law on who is a Jew’
By Judah Ari Gross
The head of the Otzma Yehudit party MK Itamar Ben Gvir at a ceremony honoring late Jewish extremist leader Rabbi Meir Kahane in Jerusalem on November 10, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
November 13, 2022, 12:25 pm
Ben Gvir calls for revoking state recognition of non-Orthodox conversions
Far-right leader seeks law that would only accept conversions performed ‘in accordance with Jewish law’ for citizenship; Reform leader warns of ‘irreparable rift with Diaspora’
By Judah Ari Gross
Load More
Sign in or Register
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.