Who Can Join the Chosen People? The Truth About Conversion

A Spiritual Calling, Not a National Privilege

Many people often misunderstand what it means to be "the chosen people" and wrongly view this concept as a racial or ethnic claim. In truth, being "the chosen people" is a spiritual responsibility, not a genetic distinction, and anyone who wishes to take on that responsibility may do so through giyur (conversion).

Conversion in Judaism is not exclusive or ethnocentric. On the contrary, Hashem welcomes anyone who sincerely wishes to join the Jewish people and live according to the Torah. Here are ten key facts that clarify what halachic conversion truly entails:

Ten Core Truths About Jewish Conversion

1. Becoming Part of the Chosen People Is Open to All
   The Creator allows anyone to draw close to Him through authentic conversion. This closeness to Hashem and His people is accessible to those willing to make the spiritual effort.

2. The Conversion Process Has Clear Halachic (Jewish Legal) Steps
   According to Jewish law, a male convert must undergo circumcision, immerse in a mikvah, and accept all the mitzvot (commandments). A female convert must immerse and accept the mitzvot.

3. Acceptance of Mitzvot Is the Heart of Conversion
   In the absence of genuine commitment to observe the commandments, the conversion is invalid. Only when a convert fully accepts the Torah and its obligations does the transformation take place.

4. Judaism Does Not Actively Seek Converts
   Conversion is not encouraged unless the candidate is genuinely drawn to the truth of Torah. Ruth, the Moabite convert and matriarch of King David’s dynasty, is the ultimate example of pure and sincere conversion. Today, many non-Jews seek conversion for a variety of personal reasons, such as marriage, a change of nationality, or financial opportunity. The rabbinical court carefully examines such motivations and does not approve conversions based on these factors. Judaism is, first and foremost, a commitment to the Divine Torah. It encompasses a complete way of life, filled with laws and practices that guide every aspect of daily living. Only those people who want to embrace this path in its entirety are considered worthy of joining the Jewish people.

5. Joining the Jewish People Requires Accepting the Covenant of Sinai
   The Jewish people became Hashem’s nation through the acceptance of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Without this acceptance, one cannot become a part of the Jewish nation. Jewish identity is not symbolic. It is based on a deep commitment to Hashem's Torah and Mitzvot. 

   Chinese people in the conversion process, illustration (Photo: Gershon Elinson / Flash 90)

6. The Torah Repeats the Commandment to Love the Convert 36 Times
   More than just refraining from mistreatment, the Torah commands us to actively love the convert: "You shall love the convert, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." This repeated emphasis is meant to counter any feeling of superiority over someone new or vulnerable.

7. The Torah Links Compassion for Converts to Our Own History of Oppression
   By recalling our own suffering in Egypt, we are commanded to empathize with those who join us, remembering the pain of alienation and the need for dignity.

8. Some of the Greatest Jewish Leaders Were Descendants of Converts
   The Talmud tells us that even the descendants of Israel’s fiercest enemies became Torah scholars. Among them were the descendants of Haman, Sisera, and Sancheriv. In later generations, giants of Torah such as Onkelos the convert, Rabbi Akiva, and Rabbi Meir were all descended from converts.

9. Non-Halachic Conversions Endanger the Integrity of the Jewish People
   Conversions conducted outside the framework of halacha pose a serious threat. In 1984, leading rabbinic authorities, including Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach, and Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, issued a warning: a conversion without full acceptance of mitzvot is invalid even after the fact. They also urged marriage registrars to verify the validity of conversion certificates both in Israel and abroad.

10. Hashem Cherishes the Sincere Convert
    Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish taught: “The convert is more beloved to Hashem than those who stood at Mount Sinai.” Why? Because the generation at Sinai witnessed miracles and had no choice but to accept the Torah. The convert, however, didn't experience any of that and yet chooses to join Hashem’s people and take on His commandments purely out of faith and conviction.

Upholding the Purity of the Jewish People

Jewish conversion is a profound spiritual transformation, not a cultural affiliation or lifestyle choice. It is rooted in halacha, shaped by commitment, and affirmed by tradition. Preserving the integrity of giyur is essential to safeguarding the holiness and unity of the Jewish people.

Through sincere acceptance of the Torah and mitzvot, converts can not only join the Jewish nation but rise to its highest levels, reminding all of us that the path to Hashem is open to anyone with truth in their heart.