This article lists nations, groups, or tribes, as well as notable individuals, who have converted to Judaism. This article does not distinguish between Jewish religious movements, which hold different views on the legitimacy of one another's conversion methods. Converts are called (; ).
A number of prominent celebrities, such as Madonna, Demi Moore, and Ariana Grande, have become followers of a "New Age" version of Kabbalah (via, e.g., the Kabbalah Centre), derived from the body of Jewish mystical teachings known as Kabbalah, but do not consider themselves—and are not considered—Jewish by the normative Jewish community.
Converted nations, groups or tribes
Converted nations, groups or tribes from non-Abrahamic religions Conversions throughout the Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman Empire periods (actual numbers and extent of proselytization disputed).Goodman, M. (1992). Jewish proselytizing in the first century. The Jews among pagans and Christians in the Roman Empire, 53-78. Proselyte was initially used in reference to Hellenistic converts to Judaism. Idumeans (disputed), Edom, 2nd century BCE: conquered and converted by John Hyrcanus.
Ituraeans (disputed), Lebanon and Syria, 2nd century BCE: according to Josephus, they were conquered and converted by Aristobulus I. Adiabene, northern Iraq, 1st century CE: Helena of Adiabene, queen of Adiabene, from traditional Greek religion. Izates bar Monobaz, king of Adiabene, from a Persian or Middle Eastern religion. Symacho, wife of Izates bar Monobaz, from a Persian or Mideastern religion Monobaz II, king of Adiabene, from a Persian or Middle Eastern religion. Khazars (disputed),), 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 Bulan, king of the Khazars, from a traditional Khazar religion 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 religionJewish 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." 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 Christianity Abayudaya Bnei Menashe Bene Ephraim, claim to be Jews who converted to Christianity, then converted back to JudaismKulanu: Bene Ephraim of Andhra Pradesh, South India B'nai Moshe (Inca Jews)Converting Inca Indians in Peru Falash Mura Jews of San Nicandro Subbotniks
Converted individuals
From Christianity
Former Christian clergy or theologians Robert de Reddinge (converted ) 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, a biblical archaeologist and former evangelical minister who became a Hebrew Bible scholar and converted to Reform Judaism, though he now identifies with secular humanism and irreligious nontheism. 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; a former Roman Catholic priest of Jewish descent, he rediscovered his Jewish roots, abandoned Christianity and converted to Liberal Judaism. Ahuva Gray, former Protestant minister Asher Wade, former Methodist minister Ole Brunell, former Lutheran minister who converted with his family to Orthodox Judaism, moved to Israel and changed his name to Shlomo Brunell.
Other Christians who converted to Judaism
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 translatorEncyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, art. Aquila of Sinope Art Aragon, Mexican-American boxer Curtis Armstrong, American actor Tom Arnold, American actor 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. Dany Boon, French comedianLe Figaro Magazine which states "as though his conversion to Judaism in 2002 had paradoxically made him closer to his Pas-de-Calais roots". Elizabeth Brewster, Canadian poetArc 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" May Britt, actress"May Britt Joins Jewish Faith", The New York Times, October 18, 1960, p. 46 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) Nell Carter, singer and actress 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 Catherine Coulson, actress Warder Cresson, politician Jim Croce, singer-songwriterInterview with Croce's Cousin http://www.netporch.com/sa/ William Holmes Crosby Jr., physician, considered one of the founders of modern hematology Sammy Davis Jr., entertainer Bob Denard, a French 20th century mercenary Zooey Deschanel, actress, singer, entrepreneur Natalie Dessay, French soprano Jacqueline du Pré, cellistA Publishers Weekly review of Jacqueline Du Pre: A Biography by Carol Easton states she was "the daughter of anti-Semitic parents who herself converted to Judaism and at age 21 married Jewish pianist-conductor Daniel Barenboim." Stephen J. Dubner, American journalist, author, and podcast host 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 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 (ex-Methodist) Mike Flanagan, Irish-Israeli soldier Luke Ford, journalistLuke Ford, XXX-Communicated: A Rebel Without a Shul. iUniverse, Inc., 2004. Maureen Forrester, Canadian opera singer Erin Foster, American writer, performer and entrepreneur Paula Fredriksen, former Catholic, historian of religion Aaron Freeman, journalist and comedian (lapsed Roman Catholic) 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 Scott Glenn, American actor Albert Goldsmid, British officer, founder of the Jewish Lads' Brigade and the Maccabaeans Lord George Gordon, nobleman and politician Reuben Greenberg, police chief of Charleston, South CarolinaThe movie Shalom y'all Lars Gustafsson, Swedish professor of philosophy at the University of Texas Daryl Hall, American musician Mary Hart (born 1950), American television personality, long-time host of the entertainment program Entertainment TonightHart – "Thought there are no Jewish Republicans in show biz? Well, Bush contributors include... host Mary Hart, who’s a convert to Judaism..." 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 literatureHer website Monica Horan, actress Joel Horlen, American baseball playerThe Big Book of Jewish Sports People by Peter Horvitz page 53 James Newton Howard, composer, conductor, and record producer Martha Hyer, actress Jenna Jameson, adult entertainer and entrepreneur Carolyn Jones, actress Thomas Jones (lapsed Roman Catholic) Y-Love a/k/a Yitz Jordan, musician Jon Juaristi, Spanish writer Skip Jutze, American major league baseball player Semei Kakungulu Walter Kaufmann, German-American philosopher, translator and poet Carol Kaye, American musician Felicity Kendal, British actressTimes Online interview: 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." Cameron Kerry, politician, brother of John Kerry (lapsed Roman Catholic) Jamaica Kincaid, author 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) Joan Lunden, American journalist, author and television host Ernst von Manstein, army officer and teacher Elliott Maddox, American former Major League Baseball player 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) Adah Isaacs Menken, stage actressVirtual Museum of the City of San Francisco 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." 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 Sara Jane Moore, American woman who attempted to assassinate U.S. president Gerald Ford in 1975 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