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? adults and four minors swore fealty to Judaism after completing a year of study. This conversion came 15 years after the Karaite Council of Sages reversed its centuries-old ban on accepting converts. Syrian Jewish communities do not normally carry out conversions, particularly where the conversion is suspected of being for the sake of marriage. Nor do they accept such converts from other communities, or the children of mixed marriages or marriages involving such converts. In general, Orthodox Judaism considers individuals born of Jewish mothers to be Jewish, even if they convert to or are raised in another religion. Reform Judaism