List of converts to 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 gerei tzedek.
A number of prominent celebrities, such as Madonna, Demi Moore, and Ariana Grande, have become followers of a "new age" version of Kabbalah, derived from the body of Jewish mystical teaching also called Kabbalah, but do not consider themselves—and are not considered—Jewish.

Converted nations, groups or tribes

Converted nations, groups or tribes from non-Abrahamic religions

Converted nations, groups or tribes from Christianity

Converted individuals

From Christianity

Former Christian clergy or theologians

Other Christians who converted to Judaism

Not from Christianity

From [atheism] and/or [agnosticism]

From [Black Hebrew Israelitism]

From [Islam]

From other Middle Eastern religions

From Greco-Roman religion

From [Samaritanism]

  • Sofi Tsedaka, Israeli actress, singer, television presenter and politician

From Shinto

From Hinduism

  • Sarah Avraham, women's world Thai-boxing champion

From [Buddhism]

  • 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 Bible

Undetermined former religion

Converts who later left the faith

  • Cristian Castro, Grammy Award-nominated Mexican pop singer
  • Bob Denard, French soldier and mercenary. Converted from Catholicism to Judaism, then from Judaism to Islam, then from Islam to Catholicism
  • Polemon II, king of Cilicia, converted to marry the Jewish princess Berenice; later relapsed