Evergreen
Working With Converts
Excerpts from the Reform Movement's Guidelines for Working with Prospective Converts
Understanding One’s Motivation to Convert to Judaism
Conversion requires such a big life change that the motivations must be genuine and psychologically well grounded.
How to Deal With Negative Attitudes About Converts
Despite a Jewish tradition of welcoming converts, Jews-by-choice may experience inappropriate attitudes that they should both understand and, if necessary, confront.
The Free Will Problem: Medieval Approaches
In the Middle Ages, Jewish thinkers struggled to reconcile God's knowledge of the future with human choice.
Welcoming the Convert into the Family of Israel
Israel's responsibilities toward converts begin with equal protection, but ultimately require the full integration of the convert into the family of Israel.
The Covenant of Circumcision
Male converts to Judaism are traditionally required to undergo circumcision or, if already circumcised, a ritual removal of a single drop of blood.
Modern Jewish Philosophy
Jewish thought in modern times has been shaped by radically new political realities.
Try It, You’ll Like It: Should Jews Proselytize?
Liberal Jews who support outreach claim that active proselytism was the Jewish tradition until the Roman Empire outlawed conversion to Judaism under penalty of death.
A Convert Cannot Reject Jewish Law
This legal opinion from the Masorti (Conservative) movement in Israel takes the lenient opinion that a convert should not explicitly reject any Jewish law.