Proselyte Proselyte The biblical term "proselyte" is an anglicization of the Koine Greek term προσήλυτος ("proselytos"), as used in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) for "stranger", i.e. a "newcomer to Israel"; a "sojourner in the land", and in the Greek New Testament for a first-century convert to Judaism, generally from Ancient Greek religion. It is a translation of the Biblical Hebrew phrase גר תושב ("ger toshav"). "Proselyte" also has the more general meaning in English of a new convert to any particular religion or doctrine. The Law of Moses made specific regulations regarding the admission into Israel's community of such as
Who is a Jew? views Jews who convert to or are raised in another religion as non-Jews. For example "...anyone who claims that Jesus is their savior is no longer a Jew..." [Contemporary American Reform Responsa, #68]. Historically, a Jew who has been declared to be a heretic (Hebrew: "min," מין) or Christian (Hebrew: "notzri," נוצרי, meaning "Nazarene") may have had a "cherem" (similar to excommunication) placed on him or her; but the practice of communal and religious exclusion does not affect their status of Jewish birth. Judaism also views as Jewish those who involuntarily convert from Judaism to another religion (Hebrew: "anusim," אנוסים,