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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 645

conversion

'Ruth in Boaz's Field,' by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1828. (Public domain)
June 2, 2025, 7:59 am
With echoes of Book of Ruth, author chronicles 7 women’s remarkable journeys to faith
This Shavuot, read Kelsey Osgood’s ‘Godstruck,’ a reflection on her own unexpected Orthodox conversion to Judaism as well as the conversions of six others to a diverse array of religions
By Rich Tenorio
A Conversion Authority rabbi gives a lesson on Judaism to people undergoing conversion in Jerusalem, Israel on January 3, 2022. (Courtesy of the Conversion Authority)
May 28, 2025, 11:20 pm
Ahead of Shavuot, thousands of converts remain unrecognized by state, stuck in limbo
Knesset committee looks at difficulties faced by those seeking official acknowledgment of conversion, with only half of those who start process each year managing to complete it
By Rossella Tercatin
File - Oded Forer, chair of Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, attends a committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on January 19, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 23, 2024, 4:34 pm
Government failure to arrange circumcisions delays conversion to Judaism for 98 men
A soldier fighting in Gaza nearly spent NIS 7,000 of his own money to finalize the process, an activist representing him says
By Canaan Lidor
Shia LaBeouf arrives at the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards, in Santa Monica, California, February 8, 2020. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
January 6, 2024, 12:32 am
Jewish-born actor Shia LaBeouf converts to Catholicism, intends to become deacon
Actor began process after playing revered Italian saint in 2022 film ‘Padre Pio’; said in interview he never felt real connection to Judaism
By AP and ToI Staff
Russian speakers perform havdala, a ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat, in Israel. (Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli)
May 25, 2023, 3:01 pm
Russian speakers relish a user-friendly Shavuot, and its pro-conversion message
An organization that helps build communities of newcomers from former Soviet countries has adapted the Jewish holiday’s all-night study tradition
By Canaan Lidor
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) receives an invitation to the COP28 climate summit in November in Dubai from Mohamed Al Khaja, the UAE ambassador to Israel, May 25, 2023 (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
May 23, 2023, 1:33 pm
Daily Briefing May 23: Netanyahu finally gets UAE invite, but not the one he wanted
Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman brings headlines from the annual Herzliya Conference; religion reporter Canaan Lidor on stymied conversions and dying European communities
By ToI Staff
Doron Almog, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, gives his inaugural speech after being elected in Jerusalem on July 10, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 13, 2022, 11:45 pm
Jewish Agency head warns incoming government not to alienate world Jewry
Cautionary statements come as likely coalition members propose measures that would dramatically reduce immigration, delegitimize non-Orthodox conversions
By Judah Ari Gross
A Shabbat minibus drives through central Tel Aviv on November 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)
September 20, 2022, 9:31 pm
Israel’s official rules limiting Shabbat activity increasingly ignored — research
Though 70% of Jewish local authorities ban cultural sites from opening on day of rest, 58% of such centers and 82% of museums operate; over a quarter of shopping malls also open
By ToI Staff
Student getting hands-on experience in Emergency Medicine Course at the Medical School for International Health (MSIH) at Soroka Medical Center. (Courtesy MSIH)
August 23, 2022, 2:02 pm
Daily Briefing Aug. 23: US med school programs closing in Israel; PA push at the UN
US correspondent Jacob Magid discusses a new Palestinian bid for UN membership; Diaspora affairs reporter Judah Ari Gross talks of seeking to become a Jew, or a doctor, in Israel
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: An Israeli rabbinical court reviews a conversion case. (Flash90)
February 20, 2022, 8:58 pm
Government advances conversion reform that seeks to curb rabbinate’s control
Contentious proposal for accepting Jewish conversions meant to give more power to local authorities, but liberal critics say it doesn’t go far enough
By Judah Ari Gross
Charlotte Nichols, the British Labour Party's parliament representative for Warrington North, lights a Hanukkah menorah. (Courtesy of Nichols)
February 12, 2022, 1:11 pm
Charlotte Nichols could soon be UK Labour Party’s only Jewish woman in parliament
Only 30, Nichols is a rising star in a party losing Jewish MPs while still reckoning with years of antisemitism accusations under Jeremy Corbyn
By Olivia Fletcher
Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana (Yitzhak Kelman)
January 12, 2022, 4:30 pm
Religious services minister unveils government plan to reform conversion system
Matan Kahana touts ‘historic opportunity’ to address problem of close to half a million Israeli residents of Jewish ancestry who are not considered Jewish by state
By ToI Staff
Illustrative image: A woman in a conversion court. (Flash90)
December 29, 2021, 10:23 pm
Liberman issues warning to chief rabbi as Knesset vote on conversion reform delayed
Finance minister tells Lau he must fulfill terms of his job or could be ousted; plenum vote on bill pushed off two weeks due to lack of support
By ToI Staff
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau attends a ceremony of the Israeli police for the Jewish new year at the National Headquarters of the Israel Police in Jerusalem on September 5, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
December 29, 2021, 1:05 pm
Chief rabbi freezes all conversions to Judaism in protest of planned reforms
David Lau tells PM framework being proposed by religious affairs minister will split the Jewish people
By Stuart Winer and ToI Staff
Rabbi Chaim Druckman attends the campaign launch of the right-wing Yamina party, ahead of the Israeli general elections, February 12, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
December 2, 2021, 9:15 am
Prominent national-religious rabbis call for protests against government
Statement signed by rabbis Chaim Druckman, Dov Lior charges legislation backed by government on conversion, kashrut and Western Wall will ‘endanger the essence of the state’
By ToI Staff
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