...any Jews in the US who are not Orthodox will BE Orthodox as soon as they reach Israel. count on it!

The answer to the drop-out rate is not to look FIRST for a few non-Jews who might be attracted to Judaism but rather to try to strengthen the ties to Judaism of those who already have been born into it. What about universal free day schools? Notice, I am not saying Orthodox, but they should be run by and staffed by Jews of Religion (most of whom are Orthodox). How about expanding Birthright to all those of Bar-Mitzvah age with a full summer program, introducing them to Israel as well as Zemirot Shabbat? Repeat it once in high school. Offer them college in Israel. There is nothing wrong with exposing Jews to Judaism and to Zionism. You might find a significant dent in the intermarriage rate if you do so.

converts, we are the only religion in the world that believes there is a place in the world to come for none Jews as well. You dont have to be Jewish to do what God wants of you (see 7 laws of Noah)

Convert to Judaism for what? Perhaps you are unaware that only an ultra-orthodox conversion in US and even not all, are accepted in Israel. I am a born-Jew and I'm not even considered Jewish by Israeli 'standards'. After countless trips to Interior Office, where I've almost been almost to being my great-grandmothet's blood, I have up. I can be 'Jewish' in US without having to declare it and shout it all the time. So before you call on people to convert, you should check at the deathly process it consists of...

Apart from Hindiuism, during the same time was the time of Abraham. So even those who practice forms of Christianity, aren't they culturally through birth are really Jewish? One doesn't need to be religious to be Jewish.

a Jew and remains a practicing Jew, there are maybe three who will pull their Jewish husband away from Judaism.

secular children to Judaism.

why should judaism not compete with christianity and islam for converts?. judaism is a universal religion whose precepts are justice ' mercy,for all whether jewish or not, in ecclesiastties it states mankinds sole purpoe is to fear g-d and keep his commandments.teaching the moral commands will educate mankind.if they then choose judaism we should welcome them.

the jewish religion was based on converting nonjews to judaism.every jew after abraham and sarah is a convert, josephus a jew wrote how christians found it hard to convert gentiles beccause jews were so fervent in their cause, what you are advocating is a return to true abrahamic judaism.

identifys a jew as having at least one jewish parent and identifys as a jew only.he or she is jewish and nothing else.sounds good to me.

biblically abraham converted gentiles to judaism["took their souls"}.he converted them to his beliefs in a moral universalistic g-d who created mankind to serve his purposes of living ln a juet and kind way.the torah sets out those precepts.the jews by prosylitizing are spreading this to people who can freely choose to follow.if the halacha was in place ruth 'a moabite,the grand grand mother of king david and the coming messiah would not be jewish either.you are in good company,g-d is inclusive.man is not to his detriment.

Don`t worry about it, soon you will all belong to the Russian Orthodox Christian Church

Any body that is Zionist and declarE him or herself Jewish IS JEWISH ONE PARENT JEWISH THEN JEWISH

Moderates should absolutely be encouraged to convert via education, interest and romantic connection. This would do 2 things: increase the jewish population and strengthen and invigorate the jewish gene pool part of which is sick with cowardice,w eakness, fear, anxiety-in particular livni, mal on, german, yechaimovitch, haber, sarid, all of haaretz, and so many others.

Instead jewishness is more sturdy as a culture and etnicity where TNK study, hebrew learning, family and solidary values, and festivities are it's center. That's the clear preference of jews and intermarried or converts. That's also where jewishness thrives.

HaShem said you will always be a tiny nation. Nothing you want will change that. BTW it's a NATION of Priests, not a RELIGION (HaShem's words). Who will accept the entire Torah? Most gentiles will decline. Why do they need to? Gentiles can aspire to the Noahide Laws if their hearts are so inclined. Remember, it's not whether or not you are formally Jewish, the critical element is having HaShem in your heart; the rest will fall in place.

Probably the biggest reason that converts typically are religious Jews is that they've CHOSEN to be Jews -- and to become Jews, they've worked at it. Why would someone who goes to all the trouble to study and change a basic belief system not want to be engaged in the religion he or she has chosen and worked to join? Meanwhile, as the number of involved, practicing born Jews is shrinking, the Israeli rabbinate is working ever harder to push away those who would join us, demanding levels of observance not followed by at least 80 percent of the world's Jews. That has to change. Here in the fleshpots, the children of the 1880-1924 immigrants are, sadly, dying away. Many, if not most, of their children (like me) accept Jews who didn't discover their Jewish neshamot until later in life. And my children's generation -- the one we're losing to indifference -- is accustomed to being around adopted Jews of other races and, generally, couldn't care less about whether someone was born to families who originated in eastern Europe's stetls. Since we don't seem willing to knock on doors like Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons, we need to do research into why that generation is so little interested in Jewish practice and then find ways to address the responses.

All these Jews are giving birth to non halachic Jews. They will not convert and they should not be considered as Jews . However they are the best friends that Jews could have . (Not all the time...) We are about quality. We have never been about quantity. Despite our small quantity we have survived the biggest civilizations. Change that to quantity and we will disappear in no time.

Little sad to rad it. I am a son of shoa survivor - my father was not halachic Jew, but passionately Zionist. My mom is not jewish. I am studyingTorah, I am religious, I am walking up with Mode ani and going to sleep with Shema, I am living kosher life, I love HaShem .... but giur is not allowed to me, because my wife is not Jewish. Yes, I know, what is in Torah "You shall not intermarry with them ...", but there is a big chance, that some of our children will follow me, it means that no one "...will turn away your son from following Me." Rabbi told me, that there are 3 choices: divorce, convert my wife too, or her death. So, I will follow further such interesting articles and remain on the other side.

I am all for making non-Jews feel better and treating them with warmness, friendship, kindness. The problem with conversions is that many want to be "secular converts" and Judaism does not want that. I cannot blame anyone for not wanting to do all the precepts (as the majority of Jews), however Judaism should not accept the aspirant converts who do not want to do all the mitzvot (which are the majority).... it is a hard religion, not for everyone

Your rabbi is too rigid. He cannot represent a loving god if he tells you to divorce or convert your wife. A forced conversion is worth nothing. He should know that. You have more than 3 choices. Do not remain in the dark ages religiously. Find a liberal community - I know that it is hard in Europe - but you could even develop an internet relationship with a synagogue/ rabbi in the US, who would welcome you to his/her community even online. Best of luck! It is a pity that I cannot transfer my "lineage" to you. I would gladly do it. It is the Jewish community's loss that they prohibit you from being the Jew you want to be.

The country was built by secular jews but the religous firced them selves in control. Everyday i deal with harasment being told im not a jew, im a lier sbout being a jew.

Iselin, many thanks for your kind words!!!

highly attached to her jewish identity, the only one she knew. Be very wellcome 'back'