Can someone convert to jewish religion?

[Odovacar]

There is something I ever wished to know.
What is the status of those people who may convert or have converted to jewish religion?

Not much such people exist as khazars vanished, etc, but I know about some szekelys in Transylvania who have jewish religion. Either they were originally khazars or just converted later when after so many sects arose and some sects draw closer and closer to jewish religion (like the sabbathians, who named their children to jewish names)

Is it true that 'original jews' must be born to be jewish? Or is just like other religions?

[Atterdag]

I guess this is a case for the
Ethos, Mores, et Monastica.. So with my amazing green powers: MOVE

[Chaigidel]

if your trying to convert to judaism generally as I understand it you must be circumsized have a ritual bathing, (dont remember name) and perhaps go through a mitzfah but Im not sure--

but basically you must appease a panel of rabbi's who will set for you a path to follow before you can become a full fledged jew-- if you do convert to judaism both judaism and Israel recognize you as a true jew.(there may be a special name again for a converted person but I think right of return still applies :O

[Odovacar]

Well im not trying im just curious, thanks for the answer....

[The White Knight]

My dad knows somebody who was born catholic and converted to Judaism. (Ergo, it is possible.) He's very orthodox and pro-Israel . I'm not sure how he has been conceived by the Jewish community.

[LSJ]

Most Jewish people for the past thousands of years have been Arab or other middle eastern ethnicities who converted from their Pagan beliefs or are descended from converts. Even the enslaved Hebrews from the time of Moses would have descended from such converts. Therefor it only makes sense that one who converts this year is just as Jewish as the ancient converts as long as they stick to the traditions and obey all mitzvoh (laws/commandments of the Torah). And importantly they should be treated just as any other would be.

The only Jews who are more Jewish than the rest would be people like Noah or Moses, who were contacted by God and given instructions... Unless the rest have had similar experiences they have no reason to treat the convert differently.

[Mathius]

This is something I have considered from time to time since finding out my ancestors were jewish immigrants

http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/art...sion_proce.htm

http://www.convert.org/

[Blau&Gruen]

It is not important to which religion you belong. It is important that you are a good person. Everything else is secondary.

[antaeus]

its an extremely controversial thing and there isn't always consensus within the jewish community...

currently there's only 2 technicalities involved.. circumcision for men and a bath like a baptism. then you can be accepted.. however you cant just choose to become jewish, as acceptance by the community is definately an unnofficial factor. some jewish communities also see a difference between being born jewish and converting..

then theres a school of thought that says everyone is born jewish - of god (see genesis!) and that conversion isnt actually such, but simply returning someone to their natural state.

there are a few controversial jewish communities who arent entirely accepted by all in the communities, they include black jews - from ethiopia and india - who may decend from middle eastern jews but became quite married into local populations... then theres historical peoples who converted en masse at some point... such as the kazars and even some kurds.. who's populations have definately dispursed amongst the general jewish population..

the israeli government is quite heavily involved in defining standards of conversion and has often been involved in controversy with various foreign and orthodox groups over the matter..