Evergreen

A Sephardic Jew records his impression of the city and its Jewish inhabitants in the twelfth century.

Judaism's openness to newcomers has varied, depending on how strong and self-confident Jews have felt.

Conversion waxes and wanes, based on the historical and national circumstances of the Jews.

What you need to know about converting to Judaism.

The evolution of Israel as a nation into Judaism as a religion was paralleled by a move from assimilation of strangers to a more formal idea of conversion.

Jewish attitudes toward conversion began to change as spouses of non-Jews remained loyal to Judaism and more converts chose Judaism.

In the face of persecution and legal restriction, codifiers of Jewish law chose survival over proselytization.

As both symbol and expression of the profound change required of a convert to Judaism, the mikveh (mikvah) is often a deeply emotional experience.

With the ritual bath's echoes of sexuality and its demand for self-abnegation, the prospect of immersion can create some trepidation for the prospective convert.

Israelis and liberal Jews observe fewer days for some holidays than traditional Diaspora Jews.