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A history from colonial times to World War II.

Four texts dealing with non-traditional forms of insemination may--or may not--serve as meaningful precedents for the contemporary debate.

At death, several gestures indicate respect for the deceased as well as acceptance of the reality of death.

Despite some legal and ethical concerns, single women should not be prohibited from becoming pregnant with donor sperm.

The major codes of Jewish law forbid actions that hasten death, but some allow the removal of impediments to death.

In Israel, even the musical is political.

In Israel some believe that Orthodox control of conversion is impeding efforts to convert immigrants from the Former Soviet Union.

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

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.