From the biblical story of Ruth to the star conversion of Elizabeth Taylor, Converts to Judaism tells the stories of people who have converted to Judaism throughout history. The book introduces readers to origins of Judaism and shares the first conversion stories of the people who helped the early Jewish faith grow. Subsequent chapters trace the trajectory of Judaism through the ages while highlighting the stories of converts—both well-known and lesser-known—and how they shaped the tradition. The book includes not only the story of Warder Cresson, who was put on trial for insanity after converting to Judaism, but also famous celebrities who became Jewish such as Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Written by a noted expert on the conversion process, Converts to Judaism serves as a unique resource to people considering the challenging path of conversion and an illustration of the important, and sometimes surprising, role Jewish converts have always played in Jewish life.
Lawrence J. Epstein is professor emeritus at Suffolk County Community College, where he taught courses on Jewish Thought and Culture. The founder of the Conversion to Judaism website, he has written on the subject for a wide range of publications. He is the author of a number of books, including The Basic Beliefs of Judaism and Conversion to Judaism: A Guidebook.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments Preface Introduction: Welcoming the Stranger: The Place of Converts in Jewish Life One: Your People Shall Be My People: Converts in the Biblical Era Two: Over Land and Sea: The Rise of Proselytism in the Hellenistic and Early Roman Period Three: A Fence Around the Torah: Converts in the Talmudic Era Four: The Time of Religious Struggle: Converts in the Medieval Era Five: Leaving the Ghetto: Converts From the Jewish Enlightenment to the Present Six: The Golden Land: Converts in the United States Seven: The Call of Zion: Converts in Israel Eight: Lessons From the History of Conversion to Judaism Glossary References Index
