Who can practice Judaism

One can become a Jew in two ways. One is to be born to a Jewish mother, and the other is to convert to Judaism. This is where Judaism differs from Hinduism and other national religions like Zoroastrianism and Shintoism. One cannot convert to Hinduism or Shintoism: one can only belong to these religions by birthright, but one can convert to Judaism. True, it is not so easy to become a Jew.

Traditionally, a potential proselyte, that is, a person who turns to a new religion, is long dissuaded from taking this step, so that he or she can demonstrate the firmness of his or her intentions: “One who wishes to become a Jew is not immediately accepted. They say to him, ‘Why should you become a Jew? For you see that this people is more humiliated and oppressed than all the nations, how afflictions and troubles fall on it …” And although the quoted treatise “Herim” (cf. Hebrew: “Proselytes”) was created in the second century – at a time when the Roman authorities, taking revenge on the Jews for another anti-Roman uprising in Palestine, prohibited the performance of Jewish rituals – its warning remained relevant at least until the middle of the 20th century. The “aspirant” who showed the proper determination underwent a special rite and became part of the Jewish people.