Research on Jewish conversion in Israel has focused primarily on Orthodox frameworks. This paper examines Reform conversion through the eyes of female converts in Central Israel`s largest Reform congregation – Beit Daniel in North Tel Aviv. This essay highlights the importance of place of origin in deciphering the conversion process.
Although the Chief Rabbinate does not recognize Reform conversions, those who convert through the Reform synagogues can be registered as Jews in Israel`s population registry. As such, the Reform Movement, which is perceived as a marginal Jewish denomination in Israel, opens doors to the marginalized groups of Russian and Filipino women, allowing them to join the national collective. The result is an alliance of marginalized groups based on a partnership of interests.
Russian women who immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return but are not Jewish according to Orthodox Halakhah, and former migrant workers from the Philippines who married Israelis, face obstacles when seeking to undergo the standard Orthodox conversion. Instead, they turn to the Reform option. After completing conversion, Russian women can pass for Jewish-Israelis due to their European looks, while Filipino women are doubly marginalized within Israeli society, due to their ongoing liminal status as former migrant workers with Asian features.
The paper also examines how couples of Filipino women and their Israeli husbands befriended each other during the conversion course and formed their own group within the larger congregation of Beit Daniel, allowing them to construct a niche within the Israeli society.