This is the Forward’s coverage of conversion, the process by which those of other faiths adopt Judaism. Most streams of Judaism, unlike many other religions, do not evangelize.
Conversion
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The Schmooze Brad Pitt Helped Shia LaBeouf Convert to Christianity
Getty Images Shia LaBeouf is many things: the former child star of “Even Stevens;” a sometimes weird performance artist; that drunk guy who crashes a performance of “Cabaret” and gets arrested. But a Jew? No longer. According to Haaretz, the actor has converted to Christianity, with a little help from Brad Pitt. LaBeouf, currently starring…
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Fast Forward Conversion Reform Passes Israeli Cabinet Vote
Israel’s Cabinet approved a government regulation that will reform the conversion process. The regulation approved on Sunday at the regular weekly Cabinet meeting will have the force of law. It can, however, be rescinded by the Cabinet as well. Only one government minister, the Jewish Home party’s Uri Ariel, who serves as housing minister, voted…
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Fast Forward After Mikveh Scandal, Rabbinic Council Appoint Committee To Review Conversion
The Rabbinical Council of America has formed a committee to review its conversion process in the wake of the arrest on voyeurism charges of one of its leading conversion rabbis. The RCA announced Wednesday the men and women appointed to a committee to review its current Geirus Protocol and Standards conversion process and suggest safeguards…
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Fast Forward After Freundel Scandal, Converts in Waiting Complain of Unexpected Obstacles
(JTA) — Tzipporah Laura LaFianza and her family have been living as Orthodox Jews for four years now. They reside in a heavily Jewish suburb of Washington, go to shul every Shabbat and keep a strictly kosher kitchen. But they’re not Jewish — yet. A prospective Orthodox convert, LaFianza, 34, is still waiting for the all-clear…
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Fast Forward Women’s Yeshiva Says Male Rabbis Don’t Have To Oversee Converts in Mikveh
In the wake of voyeurism allegations against a prominent Orthodox rabbi, the head of an Orthodox yeshiva for women is arguing that male rabbis needn’t be present for a female convert’s ritual immersion. Rabbi Jeffrey Fox, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Maharat in New York, is preparing a teshuva, or Jewish legal opinion, arguing that…
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Fast Forward Conversion Reform Bill Moves Ahead in Israel
A Knesset committee has for the second time approved a bill allowing local rabbis to oversee conversions to Judaism in Israel. The bill is now slated to be returned to the full Knesset for its second and third readings. The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Monday approved the conversion bill by a vote…
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News How a Stunned Synagogue Faces Up to Sins of Rabbi Barry Freundel
There is no playbook guiding Modern Orthodox congregations on what to do when their rabbi is accused of abusing congregants and of violating their privacy at the most holy and intimate of moments. But when the venerable Washington congregation Kesher Israel got the news on October 14 that its spiritual leader of more than 26…
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Fast Forward Rabbi Barry Freundel Urged Women To Take ‘Long Showers’ and Mikveh ‘Dunks’
(JTA) — When Rabbi Barry Freundel asked Bethany Mandel to take a “really long shower” before a “practice dunk” in the mikvah prior to her formal conversion to Judaism, the whole request seemed a bit odd, she says. For one thing, Freundel instructed her to skip the pre-mikvah checklist, which includes things like cleaning out…
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