Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Orthodox conversion

FILE: New immigrants from France arrive on an "Aliyah Flight" at Ben Gurion airport. August 1, 2024. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
May 7, 2026, 2:56 pm
Ministerial panel to vote on bill that would bar citizenship for non-Orthodox converts
Reform movement leader: ‘Government slamming door in the faces’ of Diaspora Jews amid rising antisemitism; MK Rabbi Kariv: Move would ‘collapse the bridge’ between Israel and Diaspora
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
'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
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
Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana (Yitzhak Kelman)
November 9, 2021, 2:27 pm
Daily Briefing Nov. 9 – Can a Modern Orthodox politician change the status quo?
Political reporter Tal Schneider and analyst Haviv Rettig Gur discuss ToI’s interview with Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana and his planned reforms for kashrut, conversion
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: An Israeli rabbinical court reviews a conversion case. (Flash90)
July 21, 2021, 7:00 pm
Religious affairs minister said planning to liberalize Jewish conversions
New plan, which comes on heels of proposed kosher supervision reform, would enable conversions outside auspices of the Chief Rabbinate, giving authority to municipal rabbis
By Raoul Wootliff
Illustrative photo of a man wearing a kippa headcovering, June 07, 2020. (Mendy Hechtman/FLASH90)
March 10, 2021, 6:11 pm
Dozens of Orthodox rabbis back High Court ruling on non-Orthodox conversion
Letter expresses support for decision recognizing Reform, Conservative conversions for citizenship, cites democratic need for freedom of religion
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and then-interior minister Gideon Sa'ar, left, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on December 25, 2012. (Miriam Alster/ Flash90/ File)
March 7, 2021, 1:42 am
Sa’ar says Netanyahu being ‘extorted’ by ultra-Orthodox on Reform conversions
New Hope leader claims PM ‘afraid of making decisions,’ Haredi parties ‘forced paralysis’ by refusing compromise that could have prevented High Court ruling recognizing converts
By ToI Staff
MK Rachel Azaria speaking at a panel discussion at the Schecter Institute on April 30, 2018 concerning the need for Israel to still find its' Jewish identity. (Eyal Weiss/Schecter Institute of Jewish Studies)
May 1, 2018, 6:59 pm
Event meant to build bridges between Israel and Diaspora goes up in flames
A panel discussion hosted by JTS and the Schechter Institute on the religious divide between American Jewry and Israel becomes a microcosm of the widening rift
By Tracy Frydberg
Johnny Solomon
February 15, 2018, 12:32 pm
Johnny Solomon
Jewish law — far more than a dry, unbending code
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo faults halacha handbooks for a lack of legal creativity; he misses the mark (review)
Men and women of the "Women of the Wall" organization wear prayer shawls and pray on the plaza near the Western Wall in Jerusalem on July 8, 2013. (Zuzana Janku/FLASH90)
June 26, 2017, 11:30 pm
Conservative Jewry, US federations decry ‘deplorable’ Western Wall reversal
Masorti movement sees ‘rising influence of an intolerant religious establishment as existential threat to future of Jewish people’
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 25, 2017. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/Flash90)
June 25, 2017, 6:48 pm
Ministers okay bill cementing ultra-Orthodox monopoly on conversion
Yisrael Beytenu appeals proposal that would pull government recognition of private conversions
By Alexander Fulbright
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 11, 2017. (Marc Israel Sellem/Flash90)
June 25, 2017, 1:28 pm
Liberman vows to quash Haredi-backed conversion, Western Wall bills
Yisrael Beytenu chief warns coalition will be weakened by legislation that would cancel recognition for independent conversions and throw out compromise with liberal streams on Western Wall
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Efrat's Rabbi Shlomo Riskin officiates at a conversion examination for the Giyur Kahalacha conversion court, November 2015. (courtesy)
May 11, 2017, 10:49 pm
Bill would end state recognition of private Orthodox conversions
Legislation presented to Knesset seeks to circumvent Supreme Court ruling that Interior Ministry must list converts as Jews
By ToI Staff
A bride and groom in the center of Tel Aviv, November 4, 2015. (Flash 90/via JTA)
February 6, 2017, 3:10 pm
Citing intermarriage threat, Israeli rabbis ‘blacklist’ families deemed not Jewish
Activists claim the chief rabbinate is holding an ‘Inquisition’ as long-time immigrants to Israel are now under the Jewish identity lens
By Andrew Tobin
In this Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, file photo, Natan Sharansky, the Jewish Agency's chairman is seen during a press conference (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky, File)
February 1, 2017, 6:18 am
Israel allows 9 Venezuelan Jewish converts to immigrate
Authorities had initially rejected group’s bid, saying they did not meet criteria, but Jewish Agency has mediated a compromise
By Daniel Estrin and Joshua Goodman
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login 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.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts 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.