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converts to Judaism

Yona Speidel, the television writer and producer formerly known as Our Lady J. (Courtesy of Yona Speidel via JTA)
July 3, 2026, 4:36 pm
The warmth of community, the heat of hostility: Yona Speidel’s Jewish journey
Prominent transgender Emmy-nominated television writer and producer formerly known as Our Lady J speaks about finding her place in Judaism, even as antisemitism followed her in
By Grace Gilson
The 'Codex Sassoon' bible is displayed at Sotheby's in New York on February 15, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP)
June 2, 2025, 2:01 pm
Daily Briefing June 2: Day 605 – Ancient Bibles receive new homes for Torah holiday
Religions reporter Rossella Tercatin on Anu’s Codex, converts’ issues and Messianic traditions of slain Yaron Lischinsky; arts editor Jessica Steinberg reviews kibbutz art on Shavuot
By Jessica Steinberg and Rossella Tercatin
Jubal Most, 3, inspects his mother Stefani Most’s new Star of David necklace while his family is prayed over at Congregation Beth Israel on August 17, 2023 in Paradise Valley, Ariz. The formerly Messianic congregation led by Richard Cortes converted to Judaism at Beth Israel where there is a Mikveh. (Caitlin O’Hara via JTA)
November 6, 2023, 12:54 am
How an Arizona pastor parted with Jesus and led his congregation to Judaism
From Messianic leader to Jewish convert, Richard Cortes marks decades-long spiritual journey with ‘Torah-based homestead community’ in remote corner of the Grand Canyon State
By Asaf Elia-Shalev
Lucette Ferraille, Ruth Ben David and Ruth Blau in the different stages of her life. (Courtesy Motti Inbari and Nechama Davidson)
June 5, 2023, 5:55 am
Villain or heroine? New book documents the complex, astonishing life of Ruth Blau
Prof. Motti Inbari explores the stranger-than-fiction tale of a woman who spied on the Gestapo, converted to Judaism twice, kidnapped a boy, and whose marriage sparked protests
By Amy Spiro
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
K.M. DiColandrea, who goes by DiCo, reads from the Torah at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn. (Courtesy of DiColandrea/ via JTA)
May 13, 2022, 3:43 am
$1.2 million raised for ex-rabbinical student’s nonprofit after Humans of NY story
K.M. DiColandrea’s story of weathering a family illness, coming out as trans and converting to Judaism strikes a chord, and readers donate to his grassroots student debate league
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Eliyah Hawila, born to a Shiite Muslim family in Lebanon, posed as an Orthodox Jew to marry an ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn woman, seen here on his wedding day. (Screen capture/ Kan)
April 25, 2022, 5:53 pm
Lebanese Muslim who posed as Orthodox Jew arrives in Israel to convert
After losing his wife over deception, Eliyah Hawila says he is determined to do things right this time
By ToI Staff
Florence Wangiju poses for a photo on the street on a trip to Israel. (Courtesy of Winnie Wangu/ via JTA)
April 9, 2022, 6:57 am
How a conversion split — and then strengthened — Kenya’s Jewish community
After Florence Wangiju and her family struggled through a labyrinthine conversion process, Nairobi’s tiny congregation took years to fully accept them, then grew closer than ever
By Cara Tabachnick
Eliyah Hawila, born to a Shiite Muslim family in Lebanon, posed as an Orthodox Jew to marry an ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn woman, seen here on his wedding day. (Screen capture/ Kan)
November 29, 2021, 6:41 am
Lebanese Muslim who posed as Orthodox Jew to wed: I loved her and they took her away
Eliyah Hawila tells Israeli TV how he was drawn to Judaism as a teen in Lebanon, his regrets and guilt over deceiving his Brooklyn bride, his desire to come to Israel and convert
By ToI Staff
Kuwaiti-born Mark Halawa holding his new Israeli citizenship documentation, August 2021. (courtesy)
August 13, 2021, 2:04 pm
Podcast: How a Kuwaiti Muslim now lives in Jerusalem as a Jewish Israeli citizen
His father was a colleague of Yasser Arafat. His mother was born into a British Mandate marriage between a Jew and a Muslim. Hear how Mark Halawa recently became an Israeli citizen
By ToI Staff
Rabbi Stephen Slater at the entrance of Temple Beth-El in Birmingham, Alabama. (Kim Eriksson/ via JTA)
May 31, 2021, 4:40 am
Rabbi Stephen Slater credits his Baptist missionary parents for his spirituality
While he’s not the only Jew by choice serving as a pulpit rabbi, he’s the only one whose parents spent decades bringing Jesus to the Ivory Coast — and his devotion reflects it
By Ben Harris
Alexa Rae Ibarra immersed in the lake at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires to complete her conversion to Judaism. (Courtesy of Ibarra via JTA)
August 2, 2020, 2:12 am
With many US ritual baths closed, converts go to Jewish summer camp for a dunk
Due to ongoing COVID-19 crisis, camps are shuttered and there are no kids in sight, so 15 Jews by choice immersed themselves in Camp Ramah’s lake to finalize their conversions
By Josefin Dolsten
Yitz Jordan has co-launched a news site for Jews of Color. (Courtesy)
July 19, 2020, 4:11 am
Rapper and entrepreneur Y-Love launches news site for Jews of Color
Founder Yitz Jordan is proud, gay, and deeply Jewish. The Tribe Herald, a centralized voice for minority Jews, is already popular with Jews of all stripes after its June 19 launch
By Aviva Engel
Bobby Apperson was disappointed not to be able to convert on his 40th birthday but says that hasn't stopped him from becoming more involved with his minyan. (Courtesy of Apperson/ via JTA)
May 10, 2020, 4:39 am
As pandemic delays many conversions in US, some are finding creative workarounds
Amid social isolation, potential Jews by choice are forced to tread water — or redefine the traditional ritual bath
By Josefin Dolsten
Nissim Black says he's 'Hitler's worst nightmare.' (Screenshot from 'Mothaland Bounce' video/ via JTA)
February 28, 2020, 6:12 am
Orthodox rapper Nissim Black reintroduces himself to the world
The African-American-Hasidic musician’s new single ‘Mothaland Bounce’ gives tribute to both his ‘urban’ past and Orthodox Jewish present in Israel as he broadens his message
By Emily Burack
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