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.
Note that a number of prominent celebrities, such as Madonna, Demi Moore, and Ariana Grande have recently 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 Christianity
- Abayudaya
- Bnei Menashe
- Bene Ephraim, claim to be Jews who converted to Christianity, then converted back to Judaism
- B'nai Moshe
- San Nicandro Jews
- Subbotniks
- Veracruz Jews
Other converted nations, groups or tribes
- Idumeans, Edom, 2nd century BCE, conquered and converted by John Hyrcanus
- * Obadiah the prophet, from a Mideastern religion
- Ituraeans, Lebanon and Syria, 2nd century BCE, conquered and converted by John Hyrcanus
- Adiabene, northern Iraq, 1st century
- * Helena, queen of Adiabene, from traditional Greek religion
- * Izates bar Monobaz, king of Adiabene, from a Persian or Mideastern religion
- * Symacho, wife of Izates bar Monobaz, from a Persian or Mideastern religion
- * Monobaz II, king of Adiabene, from a Persian or Mideastern religion
- Nabataeans, many were forcefully converted by the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus
- Khazars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people from Central Asia, 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 religion
- 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 Hijaz after Second Jewish-Roman Wars, Arab tribes were interested in Judaism which was brought by Jews. Later, they adopted and claimed to be Israelites. They were Arabian origins still believed sons of god concept from indigenous polytheistic beliefs.
Converted individuals
From Christianity
Former Christian clergy/theologians
- Robert de Reddinge
- 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.
- 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, converted with his family to Orthodox Judaism, moved to Israel and changed his name to Shlomo Brunell, former Lutheran minister.
- John David Scalamonti, former Roman Catholic priest.
- Kenneth Cox, changed his name to Abraham Carmel, former Catholic priest.
- Gavriel Aryeh Sanders, former Catholic and former Evangelical minister, converted to Orthodox Judaism.
Other Christians who converted to Judaism
- Abraham ben Abraham, convert from the Potocki family, the famed "Ger Tzedek"
- Abraham of Augsburg
- John Adler, American politician
- Aluizio Abranches, Brazilian filmmaker
- Aquila of Sinope, Bible translator
- 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
- Elizabeth Banks, American actress
- Anne Beatts, American comedy writer
- Antonia Bennett, American singer
- Polly Bergen, American actress and singer
- Dany Boon, French comedian
- Elizabeth Brewster, Canadian poet
- May Britt, actress
- Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning Australian-American journalist and author
- Campbell Brown, American television news reporter
- Ken Burgess, British musician
- Anne Buydens, German-American producer, wife of Kirk Douglas
- Yisrael Campbell, comedian
- Kate Capshaw, actress
- Rod Carew, Hall of Fame Panamanian former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman, and coach who played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels.
- 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
- Catherine Coulson, actress
- Warder Cresson, politician
- Jim Croce, singer/songwriter
- William Holmes Crosby Jr., physician, considered one of the founders of modern hematology
- Sammy Davis Jr., entertainer
- Zooey Deschanel, actress, singer, entrepreneur
- Natalie Dessay, French soprano
- Jacqueline du Pré, cellist
- 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
- Isla Fisher, model and actress
- Mike Flanagan, Irish-Israeli soldier
- Luke Ford, journalist
- Maureen Forrester, Canadian opera singer
- Paula Fredriksen, former Catholic, historian of religion
- Aaron Freeman, journalist and comedian
- Maja Ruth Frenkel, Croatian entrepreneur
- Capers Funnye, 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 Carolina
- Lars Gustafsson, Swedish professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas
- Daryl Hall, American musician
- Mary Hart, American television personality, long-time host of the entertainment program Entertainment Tonight
- Morris Hatalsky, American professional golfer
- Anthony Heald, American actor
- Henry Hill, American mobster
- Carolivia Herron, writer of children's and adult literature
- Heidi R. Hoover, rabbi, daughter of a Lutheran bishop
- Monica Horan, actress
- Joel Horlen, American baseball player
- Martha Hyer, actress
- Jenna Jameson, adult entertainer and entrepreneur
- Carolyn Jones, actress
- Thomas Jones
- 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 actress
- Cameron Kerry, politician, brother of John Kerry
- Jamaica Kincaid, author
- John King, American television journalist
- 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
- Dr. Laura, American radio personality
- 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
- Joan Lunden, American journalist, author and television host
- Elliott Maddox, American former Major League Baseball player
- Richard Marceau, Canadian politician
- Sam McCullum, NFL football wide receiver
- Charles McDew, African-American activist of the Civil Rights Movement.
- Anne Meara, American comedian and actress, partner and wife of Jerry Stiller
- Adah Isaacs Menken, stage actress
- LaVon Mercer, American-Israeli retired basketball player
- Anastassia Michaeli, Russian-born former member of the Israeli Knesset
- Benjamin Millepied, French dancer and choreographer
- Marilyn Monroe, actress
- Santa Montefiore, novelist
- 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
- Arieh O'Sullivan, American-born Israeli journalist
- 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 and 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
- Mandy Rice-Davies, British model and showgirl
- Michael Ross, Canadian intelligence expert, former Mossad officer
- Mary Doria Russell, American author
- Jackie Sandler, American actress
- Bärbel Schäfer, German television presenter and talk show host
- Mary Schaps, Israeli-American mathematical scholar
- Norma Shearer, American actress
- Joseph J. Sherman, businessman
- Cate Shortland, Australian director
- Shyne, Belizean–American rapper
- Karol Sidon, Czech Orthodox rabbi, writer and playwright
- Daniel Silva, American author of thriller and espionage novels
- Chris Smith, American-Israeli basketball player
- Willie "the Lion" Smith, American pianist and composer
- June Squibb, American actress
- Dubrovin Stanislav
- Kim Stanley, American actress
- Venetia Stanley, socialite
- Joseph Abraham Steblicki
- Margo Stilley, American film actress
- Annette Taddeo, businesswoman and politician
- Elizabeth Taylor, actress
- Karen Tintori, American author of fiction and nonfiction
- Andre Bernard Tippett, American Hall of Fame former football linebacker for the New England Patriots
- Jacob Tirado, co-founder of the Sephardic community of Amsterdam
- Ivanka Trump, American businesswoman, fashion designer, author and reality television personality
- Bob Tufts, 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
- Conrad Veidt, German actor
- Jackie Wilson, American soul singer
- Mare Winningham, actress, singer
- Katarzyna Weiglowa, Polish martyr
- Steve Yeager, American baseball player
- Nikki Ziering, model
Not from Christianity
From [atheism] and/or [agnosticism]
- Christian B. Anfinsen, Nobel prize-winning chemist
- Suzy Menkes, fashion journalist
- Hilary Putnam, philosopher raised in a Jewish-atheist home
- Mary Doria Russell
- Anna Silk, Canadian actress
From [Black Hebrew Israelitism]
- Eddie Butler, Israeli singer, converted to Orthodox Judaism
- Capers Funnye
From [Islam]
- Nissim Baruch Black, American rapper and music producer, raised Muslim but converted to Christianity before converting to Judaism
- Avraham Sinai, Lebanese member of Hezbollah who had an Orthodox conversion and lives as a Haredi Jew in Tsfat
From [Druzism]
- Michael Netzer, American comic book artist, mother is Lebanese Jewish
From other Middle Eastern religions
- Avtalyon, Sage and Vice-President of the Sanhedrin, apparently from a Mideastern religion
- Sh'maya, Sage and President of the Sanhedrin, apparently from a Mideastern religion
From Greco-Roman religion
- Aquila of Sinope, from traditional Greek religion
- Paulina Beturia, from traditional Roman religion
- Flavia Domitilla, from traditional ancient Roman religion
- Titus Flavius Clemens, consul, great-nephew of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, from traditional Roman religion
- Fulvia, wife of Emperor Tiberius' close friend, Saturninus, from traditional Roman religion
- Onkelos, Hebrew scholar and translator, from ancient Roman religion
From [Samaritanism]
- Sofi Tsedaka, Israeli actress, singer, television presenter and politician
From Shinto
- Setzuso Kotsuji, son of a Shinto priest, and a professor in Japan
From Hinduism
- Bhagirath Mohandas Prasad, doctor who converted to Judaism.
- Sarah Avraham, women's world Thai-boxing champion
From [Buddhism]
- Angela Warnick Buchdahl, converted to Reform Judaism at age 21.
List of conversions named in the Bible
- Bithiah, from traditional Egyptian religion
- Darius the Mede, fictional character, from a mideastern religion who admitted that God of Israel is eternal Forever
- Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, from a Mideastern religion
- Makeda, queen of Sheba, from a Mideastern or Ethiopian religion
- Osenath, from the ancient Egyptian religion
- Ruth, great-grandmother of King David, from a Near Eastern religion
- Yael, from Canaanite or another Near Eastern religion
- Zipporah, from a Mideastern or northern African religion
Undetermined former religion
- Joseph Bánóczi
- Drew Bundini Brown, assistant trainer of former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali
- Sarah Brown, actress
- Salem Shaloam David
- József Eisenhoffer
- Nachman Fahrner
- Lenny Kuhr, Dutch singer-songwriter
- Martha Nussbaum, American philosopher and academic
- Helen Reddy, Australian American singer and actress
- Dara Torres
- Desmond Wilcox
- Andre Williams
Converts who later left the faith
- Cristian Castro, Grammy Award-nominated Mexican pop singer
- Uriel da Costa, philosopher shunned for heresy
- 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