List of converts to Judaism
Template:Judaism This article lists nations, groups or tribes, as well as notable individuals, who have converted to Judaism. This article does not differentiate between the different branches of Judaism. See also Who is a Jew? on issues related to the acceptance of conversions throughout the Jewish community.
Converts are called gerey tzedek (righteous proselytes).
A number of prominent celebrities, such as Madonna, Demi Moore, and Ariana Grande, have become followers of a "new age" version of Kabbalah (see Kabbalah Centre), derived from the body of Jewish mystical teaching also called Kabbalah, but do not consider themselves – and are not considered – Jewish.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Converted nations, groups or tribesEdit
Converted nations, groups or tribes from non-Abrahamic religionsEdit
- Conversions throughout the Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Empire periods<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Zoossmann-Diskin 2010 p. 57">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Feldman 1993 pp. 1–58">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name = "Bartal">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> (actual numbers and extent of proselytization disputed<ref name="docs.google.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Goodman, M. (1992). Jewish proselytizing in the first century. The Jews among pagans and Christians in the Roman Empire, 53-78.</ref>) See the article on proselyte: a term which initially referred to Hellenistic converts to Judaism.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Stroup 2020 p. 93">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Idumeans (disputed<ref>
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- Ituraeans (disputed<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>), Lebanon and Syria, 2nd century BCE, who according to Josephus, were conquered and converted by Aristobulus I<ref name="Idumeans&Ituracans"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Britannica</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Adiabene, northern Iraq, 1st century
- Helena, queen of Adiabene, from traditional Greek religion<ref name="jewishencyclopedia.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Izates bar Monobaz, king of Adiabene, from a Persian or Mideastern religion<ref name="jewishencyclopedia.com" />
- Symacho, wife of Izates bar Monobaz, from a Persian or Mideastern religion<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Monobaz II, king of Adiabene, from a Persian or Mideastern religion<ref name="jewishencyclopedia.com" />
- Khazars (disputed<ref>
Template:Britannica </ref><ref> Template:Cite journal </ref><ref> Template:Cite journal </ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>), a semi-nomadic Turkic people from Central Asia (historical Khazaria), many of whom converted to Judaism en masse in the 8th and 9th centuries CE from a Khazar religion<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Bulan, king of the Khazars, from a traditional Khazar religion<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Crimean Karaites and Krymchaks are also Turkic peoples which underwent conversion.<ref>See e.g Inscription in Khazarian Rovas script</ref>
- Samaw'al ibn 'Adiya and his clan
- Himyarite Kingdom, Yemen, 6th century
- Tub'a Abu Kariba As'ad, from Arabian religion, Himyarite king of Yemen; ruled Yemen 390–420 CE
- Dhu Nuwas, king of Yemen, from a Mideastern religion<ref>Jewish Encyclopedia "If the contradictory and sometimes legendary accounts of the personality of Dhu Nuwas given by the Arabian writers can be trusted, he was not a Jew by birth, but embraced Judaism after ascending the throne, taking the name of "Joseph."</ref>
- Kingdom of Semien, Ethiopia, 4th century
- Multiple Berber tribes noted by Ibn Khaldun, including the Jarawa, and possibly the warrior queen Kahina and her tribe. northwest Africa, 7th century, disputed
- Banu Qurayza and Banu Nadir: Arab tribes who converted to Judaism when Jews arrived in Hejaz following the Diaspora Revolt Later, they claimed to be Israelites. They were of Arabian origins and believed in the concept of "sons of God" from pre-Islamic Arabia and indigenous polytheistic beliefs.
Converted nations, groups or tribes from ChristianityEdit
- Abayudaya<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Bnei Menashe<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Bene Ephraim, claim to be Jews who converted to Christianity, then converted back to Judaism<ref>Kulanu: Bene Ephraim of Andhra Pradesh, South India Template:Webarchive</ref>
- B'nai Moshe (Inca Jews)<ref>Converting Inca Indians in Peru Template:Webarchive</ref>
- Falash Mura
- San Nicandro Jews<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Converted individualsEdit
From ChristianityEdit
Former Christian clergy or theologiansEdit
- Robert de Reddinge (converted Template:Circa)
- Abba Sabra, fifteenth-century Ethiopian Orthodox monk who joined the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish) community. He converted his pupil, prince Abba Saga, to Judaism and introduced monasticism to Ethiopian Jewry.
- Nicolas Antoine, former Protestant theologian
- William G. Dever, Biblical archaeologist and former Evangelical minister who became a world-renowned Old Testament scholar and converted to Reform Judaism, although he says he no longer believes in God.<ref name=Dever>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Géza Vermes, world-renowned historical Jesus research scholar, Hebraist and historian of religion, best known for being an eminent translator of the Dead Sea Scrolls;<ref name="timesofisrael">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="forward">Template:Cite news</ref> a former Roman Catholic priest of Jewish descent, he rediscovered his Jewish roots, abandoned Christianity and converted to Liberal Judaism.<ref name="timesofisrael"/><ref name="forward"/>
- Ahuva Gray, former Protestant minister
- Asher Wade, former Methodist minister
- Ole Brunell, converted with his family to Orthodox Judaism, moved to Israel and changed his name to Shlomo Brunell, former Lutheran minister.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Other Christians who converted to JudaismEdit
- Abba Saga, Ethiopian prince and son of emperor Zara Yaqob, who persecuted Jews; converted with his teacher Abba Sabra, a former Ethiopian Orthodox monk
- Abraham ben Abraham, convert from the Potocki family, known as Ger Tzedek
- Abraham of Augsburg
- John Adler, American politician
- Aluizio Abranches, Brazilian filmmaker
- Anouk Aimée, French actress
- Amar'e Stoudemire, American and Israeli basketball player
- Aquila of Sinope, Bible translator<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, art. Aquila of Sinope</ref>
- Art Aragon, Mexican-American boxer
- Curtis Armstrong, American actor
- Tom Arnold, American actor<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Rafael Cansinos Assens, Spanish poet, essayist, literary critic and translator
- Moses ben Avraham Avinu
- Carroll Baker, American actress
- Anne Beatts, American comedy writer
- Antonia Bennett, American singer
- Polly Bergen, American actress and singer
- Nissim Black, rapper
- Darrell Blocker, "The Spy Whisperer," CIA agent, converted to conservative Judaism in 2017.<ref name="autod">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Dany Boon, French comedian<ref>Le Figaro Magazine which states "as though his conversion to Judaism in 2002 had paradoxically made him closer to his Pas-de-Calais roots".</ref>
- Elizabeth Brewster, Canadian poet<ref>Arc Poetry review of "Jacob's Dream" which states "Brewster is fascinated with her newly adopted faith of Judaism—poems about Jewish holy days and heritage are sprinkled throughout"</ref>
- May Britt, actress<ref>"May Britt Joins Jewish Faith", The New York Times, October 18, 1960, p. 46</ref>
- Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning Australian-American journalist and author
- Campbell Brown, American television news reporter (Baptist Roman Catholic)
- Ken Burgess, British musician
- Anne Buydens, German-American producer, wife of Kirk Douglas
- Yisrael Campbell, comedian (lapsed Roman Catholic)
- Kate Capshaw, actress (ex-Methodist)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Nell Carter, singer and actress<ref>Chicago Sun Times via "Find Articles." Template:Webarchive: Said of her conversion "I needed to know where God was, and I went back to the basics."</ref>
- Marvin Casey, Israeli-American hip hop dancer, choreographer, dance instructor and actor
- Mr. Catra, Brazilian funk singer and actor
- Elizabeth Jane Caulfield, linguist and musician
- Lauren Cohan, American actress <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Catherine Coulson, actress
- Warder Cresson, politician
- Jim Croce, singer-songwriter<ref>Interview with Croce's Cousin http://www.netporch.com/sa/</ref>
- William Holmes Crosby Jr., physician, considered one of the founders of modern hematology
- Sammy Davis Jr., entertainer<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Zooey Deschanel, actress, singer, entrepreneur
- Natalie Dessay, French soprano
- Jacqueline du Pré, cellist<ref>A Publishers Weekly review of Jacqueline Du Pre: A Biography by Carol Easton [1] Template:Webarchive states she was "the daughter of anti-Semitic parents who herself converted to Judaism and at age 21 married Jewish pianist-conductor Daniel Barenboim."</ref>
- Stephen J. Dubner, American journalist, author, and podcast host<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Dubrovin Stanislav
- Patricia Duff, political activist and United States Democratic Party fundraiser
- Miss Elizabeth, also known as Elizabeth Ann Hulette, U.S. professional wrestling manager
- Hank Eng, Chinese-American politician<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Carlos Escudé, Argentine political scientist and author
- Rachel Factor, American Orthodox Jewish singer, actress, and dancer
- Nachman Fahrner, contemporary Jewish singer
- Louis Ferrante, American mobster
- Kate Fischer, Australian-American former model and actress
- Ada Fisher, American physician and political candidate
- Isla Fisher, model and actress<ref name="fisher1">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> (ex-Methodist)
- Mike Flanagan, Irish-Israeli soldier
- Luke Ford, journalist<ref>Luke Ford, XXX-Communicated: A Rebel Without a Shul. iUniverse, Inc., 2004. Template:ISBN</ref>
- Maureen Forrester, Canadian opera singer
- Erin Foster, American writer, performer and entrepreneur
- Paula Fredriksen, former Catholic, historian of religion<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- Aaron Freeman, journalist and comedian (lapsed Roman Catholic)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Maja Ruth Frenkel, Croatian entrepreneur
- Capers Funnye (ex-Methodist), rabbi
- Steve Furness, American football player
- Natan Gamedze, former Protestant, linguist and a Swazi royal, now a black Haredi rabbi<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Scott Glenn, American actor
- Albert Goldsmid, British officer, founder of the Jewish Lads' Brigade and the Maccabaeans
- Lord George Gordon, nobleman and politician<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Reuben Greenberg, police chief of Charleston, South Carolina<ref name="The movie Shalom y'all">The movie Shalom y'all</ref>
- Lars Gustafsson, Swedish professor of philosophy at the University of Texas<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Daryl Hall, American musician
- Mary Hart (born 1950), American television personality, long-time host of the entertainment program Entertainment Tonight<ref>Hart – [2] "Thought there are no Jewish Republicans in show biz? Well, Bush contributors include... host Mary Hart, who’s a convert to Judaism..."</ref>
- Morris Hatalsky, American professional golfer
- Anthony Heald, American actor
- Alma Hernandez, Democratic Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
- Henry Hill, American mobster
- Carolivia Herron, writer of children's and adult literature<ref>Her website</ref>
- Monica Horan, actress<ref name="nndb" />
- Joel Horlen, American baseball player<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- James Newton Howard, composer, conductor, and record producer
- Martha Hyer, actress
- Jenna Jameson, adult entertainer and entrepreneur
- Carolyn Jones, actress<ref name="nndb" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Thomas Jones (lapsed Roman Catholic)
- Y-Love a/k/a Yitz Jordan, musician<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Jon Juaristi, Spanish writer<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Skip Jutze, American major league baseball player
- Semei Kakungulu
- Walter Kaufmann, German-American philosopher, translator and poet
- Carol Kaye, American musician
- Felicity Kendal, British actress<ref>Times Online interviewTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore: She says in the interview "I converted to Judaism in 1983. I am not a deeply religious person but it is a vital part of my life. It shapes my beliefs, and how I look at the world."</ref>
- Cameron Kerry, politician, brother of John Kerry (lapsed Roman Catholic)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Jamaica Kincaid, author<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- John King, American television journalist (lapsed Roman Catholic)
- Karlie Kloss, model
- Fumiko Kometani, Japanese author and painter
- Mathilde Krim, Ph.D., founding Chairman of amfAR, association for AIDS research
- Anthony Lake, American diplomat, political figure, and academic
- Frida Laski, British suffragist, birth control advocate, and eugenicist
- Nahida Lazarus, German author, essayist, scholar, and literary critic
- Natasha Leggero, American actress and comedian
- John Lehr, American film and television actor and comedian
- Julius Lester, son of a Methodist minister and a children's author (ex-Methodist)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Joan Lunden, American journalist, author and television host
- Ernst von Manstein, army officer and teacher
- Elliott Maddox, American former Major League Baseball player<ref name="Jewish Baseball Players">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Richard Marceau, Canadian politician
- Sam McCullum (born 1952), NFL football wide receiver
- Charles McDew (1938–2018), African-American activist of the Civil Rights Movement.
- Anne Meara (1929–2015), American comedian and actress, partner and wife of Jerry Stiller (lapsed Roman Catholic)<ref name="Meara1">Template:Cite news</ref>
- Adah Isaacs Menken, stage actress<ref>Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco Template:Webarchive states of her marriage, "Adah was not at all interested in home or family; in fact, the only thing she shared sincerely with him was his religion–she adopted the Jewish faith and remained steadfast in it until her death."</ref>
- LaVon Mercer (born 1959), American-Israeli basketball player
- Anastassia Michaeli, Russian-born former member of the Israeli Knesset
- Benjamin Millepied, French dancer and choreographer
- Santa Montefiore, novelist<ref>The Independent Feb 7, 2005; online here Findarticles Template:Webarchive accessed Dec 11, 2006</ref>
- Tommy Mottola, American record producer
- Françoise Mouly, French artist, designer, and art editor of The New Yorker
- Jeff Newman, American Major League Baseball catcher
- Bob Nystrom, Canadian former NHL player<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Arieh O'Sullivan, American-born Israeli journalist
- Morgan Ortagus, American television commentator, financial analyst, and political advisor
- Eleanor Parker, American actress
- Lorna Patterson, American film, stage and television actress
- Andrew Percy, British politician
- Alison Pick, Canadian novelist and poet
- Rebecca Pidgeon, Scottish-American actress, singer-songwriter
- Bob Plager, Canadian retired professional NHL ice hockey defenceman
- Moses Prado, professor of the classic languages at the University of Marburg
- Roger Rees, actor
- Reuel Abraham, German pilot in Hitler's army, then became a Jew and citizen of Israel<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Mandy Rice-Davies, British model and showgirl
- Michael Ross, Canadian intelligence expert, former Mossad officer
- Mary Doria Russell, American author (lapsed Roman Catholic)<ref>Interview at Book Browse "I am a Jew by choice and Italian by heritage. Shortly after I converted to Judaism, I came across a book by Alexander Stille called Benevolence and Betrayal: Five Italian Jewish Families Under Fascism."</ref>
- Jackie Sandler, American actress
- Bärbel Schäfer, German television presenter and talk show host<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Mary Schaps, Israeli-American mathematical scholar
- Laura Schlessinger, American radio personality<ref name="nndb" />
- Norma Shearer, American actress
- Joseph J. Sherman, businessman<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Cate Shortland, Australian director
- Shyne, Belizean–American rapper<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Karol Sidon, Czech Orthodox rabbi, writer and playwright
- Daniel Silva, American author of thriller and espionage novels<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Chris Smith, American-Israeli basketball player<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Willie "the Lion" Smith, American pianist and composer
- Robin Spark, Scottish artist.<ref name="Herald Obituary">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- June Squibb, American actress
- Kim Stanley, American actress<ref>from biography "Female Brando: The Legend of Kim Stanley" by Jon Krampner, 2006</ref>
- Venetia Stanley, socialite<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Joseph Abraham Steblicki (lapsed Roman Catholic)
- Margo Stilley, American film actress<ref>Stilley – [3]Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore "...the former model, raised a Christian in Conway, S.C., recently announced that she is converting to Judaism. Even her rabbi is befuddled.... "The first thing that attracted me to Judaism was the undeniable family strength that has held Jewish people and culture together for 3,000 years. . . Jews, whether religious or not, know where they have come from and what they would wish for their future, and this certainty is based on fact, not faith.... "I will not be a perfect Jew, nor will Judaism make me perfect. But I know that Judaism will give me faith, support, knowledge, and history. I am not Jewish because I choose to be. I am Jewish because there is no other choice for me.""</ref>
- Annette Taddeo, businesswoman and politician
- Elizabeth Taylor, actress (ex-Christian Scientist)<ref>In her book Elizabeth Takes Off, Taylor writes, "[Conversion to Judaism] had absolutely nothing to do with my past marriage to Mike [Todd] or my upcoming marriage to Eddie Fisher, both of whom were Jewish. It was something I had wanted to do for a long time." Template:Usurped</ref>
- Karen Tintori, American author of fiction and nonfiction (lapsed Roman Catholic)
- Andre Bernard Tippett, American Hall of Fame former football linebacker for the New England Patriots (ex-Baptist)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Jacob Tirado (c. 1540–1620), co-founder of the Sephardic community of Amsterdam
- Ivanka Trump, businesswoman, raised Presbyterian<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Bob Tufts (1955–2019), American former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Ike Turner, American musician, bandleader, talent scout, and record producer; son of a Baptist minister
- Jeff Tweedy, American musician
- Michael W. Twitty, American writer, culinary historian and educator
- Alex Tyus, American-Israeli professional basketball player
- Chris Van Allsburg, children's writer<ref>Jewish Bulletin of Northern California:On being asked about Christmas, because of the Santa Claus related The Polar Express, he stated "We have a Jewish household. I converted when I married Lisa."</ref>
- Conrad Veidt, German actor<ref name="nndb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Jackie Wilson, American soul singer
- Mare Winningham, actress, singer (lapsed Roman Catholic)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Katarzyna Weiglowa, Polish martyr
- Steve Yeager, American baseball player<ref name="Jewish Baseball Players"/>
- Nikki Ziering, model<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Not from ChristianityEdit
From atheism and/or agnosticismEdit
- Christian B. Anfinsen – Nobel prize-winning chemist (Orthodox Judaism)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- David P. Goldman, "Spengler" – columnist and former member of the LaRouche movement who embraced Judaism in the 1990s<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Will Herberg – social philosopher and sociologist of religion; Jewish theologian; former atheist and Marxist of Jewish ancestry who was raised atheist<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Benny Lévy – philosopher; last personal secretary of Jean-Paul Sartre<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Suzy Menkes – fashion journalist
- Hilary Putnam – philosopher raised in a Jewish-atheist home<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Mary Doria Russell<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Anna Silk – Canadian actress<ref name=JTrib>Cohen, Mike. TV’s Lost Girl converts to Judaism, Jewish Tribune, August 23, 2011. Accessed October 18, 2011.</ref>
- David Wolpe – a leading rabbi in Conservative Judaism; former atheist<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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From Black Hebrew IsraelitismEdit
- Eddie Butler – Israeli singer, converted to Orthodox Judaism
- Capers Funnye
From IslamEdit
- Avraham Sinai – Lebanese member of Hezbollah who had an Orthodox conversion and lives as a Haredi Jew in Tsfat.<ref>"A Martyr from Lebanon: Life in the Shadow of Danger"</ref>
- Baruch Mizrahi – Palestinian Arab and member of the Irgun.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Dario Hunter – American lawyer, rabbi and politician.
- Ibrahim Shaheen and Inshirah Moussa – Palestinian man and his Egyptian wife.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Michaela DePrince – Sierra Leonean-American ballet dancer.
- Nasreen Qadri – Arab Israeli singer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Nissim Baruch Black (born Damian Jamohl Black) – American rapper and music producer, raised Muslim but converted to Christianity before converting to Judaism.
- Khadija Patman – British pornographic actress of South Asian origin. She converted to Judaism while dating her Jewish boyfriend.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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From other Middle Eastern religionsEdit
- Avtalyon, Sage and vice-president of the Sanhedrin, apparently from a Mideastern religion<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Sh'maya, Sage and President of the Sanhedrin, apparently from a Mideastern religion<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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From Greco-Roman religionEdit
- Aquila of Sinope (Acylas), from traditional Greek religion<ref>Jewish Encyclopedia "He was by birth a Gentile from Pontus, and is said by Epiphanius to have been a connection by marriage of the emperor Hadrian and to have been appointed by him about the year 128 to an office concerned with the rebuilding of Jerusalem as "Ælia Capitolina." At some unknown age he joined the Christians, but afterward left them and became a proselyte to Judaism."</ref>
- Paulina Beturia, from traditional Roman religion
- Flavia Domitilla, from traditional ancient Roman religion (possibly to Jewish Christianity, as she is also a Christian saint)
- Titus Flavius Clemens, consul, great-nephew of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, from traditional Roman religion (possibly to Jewish Christianity, as he is also a Christian saint)
- Fulvia, wife of Emperor Tiberius' close friend, Saturninus, from traditional Roman religion
- Onkelos, Hebrew scholar and translator, from ancient Roman religion<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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From SamaritanismEdit
- Sofi Tsedaka, Israeli actress, singer, television presenter and politician
From ShintoEdit
- Setsuzo Kotsuji, son of a Shinto priest, and a professor in Japan (converted from Shinto to Christianity and then from Christianity to Judaism)
From HinduismEdit
- Sarah Avraham, women's world Thai-boxing champion
From BuddhismEdit
- Angela Warnick Buchdahl, American Reform Jewish Rabbi, converted to Orthodox Judaism at age 21. She was not raised within the Buddhist faith; however, her mother is Buddhist so by Orthodox Jewish law she was not considered Jewish, but she was raised Jewish and so by Reform Jewish law she has always been Jewish.
List of conversions named in the BibleEdit
- Bithiah, from traditional Egyptian religion
- Darius the Mede, from a mideastern religion who admitted that God of Israel is eternal Forever Template:Sfn<ref>Book of Daniel 6:25-28</ref>
- Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Osenath, from the ancient Egyptian religion (her name relates to Anat)
- Ruth, great-grandmother of King David, from a Near Eastern religion<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Yael, from Canaanite or another Near Eastern religion
- Zipporah, from a Mideastern or northern African religion
Undetermined former religionEdit
- According to rabbinic tradition, Obadiah the prophet, from a Mideastern religion<ref>Jewish Encyclopedia "Obadiah was a proselyte of Edomite origin."</ref>
- Drew Bundini Brown, assistant trainer of former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali
- Sarah Brown, actress<ref>Q&A with Sarah Brown "Judaism, for me, is more a spiritual thing than a religion, but I feel that I have a Jewish soul. I didn't convert because of my marriage; I just always felt like there was a Jewish soul inside of me just dying to get out."</ref>
- Salem Shaloam David
- József Eisenhoffer
- Nachman Fahrner
- Lenny Kuhr, Dutch singer-songwriter
- Martha Nussbaum, American philosopher and academic<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Annamie Paul, Canadian activist, lawyer, and former leader of the Green Party of Canada.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Helen Reddy, Australian American singer and actress
- Dara Torres
- Schlomo Hofmeister
- Desmond Wilcox
- Andre Williams
Converts who later left the faithEdit
- Cristian Castro, Grammy Award-nominated Mexican pop singer<ref name="EsMas.com"/> (reverted to Roman Catholicism after divorcing his Jewish wife) <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Bob Denard, French soldier and mercenary. Converted from Catholicism to Judaism, then from Judaism to Islam, then from Islam to Catholicism<ref>["Robert Young Pelton's The World's Most Dangerous Places: 5th Edition", Robert Young Pelton, Collins Reference, 2003, p.270: "Denard has seven wives and has at various times converted to Judaism (in Morocco) and Islam (in the Comoros) and then back to Catholicism."]</ref>
- Polemon II, king of Cilicia, converted to marry the Jewish princess Berenice; later relapsed<ref>(Josephus, Jewish Antiquities xx. 7, § 3</ref>
See alsoEdit
- List of people by belief
- List of Jews
- List of converts to Buddhism
- List of converts to Christianity
- List of people who converted to Catholicism
- List of converts to Hinduism
- List of converts to Islam
- List of converts to Sikhism