Famous Converts to Judaism: From Ruth the Moabite to Modern Hollywood

The Most Important Convert in History

The Book of Ruth — read every year on Shavuot — tells the story of a Moabite woman who made a choice that would change Jewish history. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, was returning to Bethlehem after the deaths of her husband and sons. She urged Ruth to stay in Moab, to return to her own people and her own gods. Ruth refused.

“Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

These words — perhaps the most beautiful declaration of loyalty in all of scripture — became the archetype of conversion to Judaism. Ruth left everything she knew — her homeland, her family, her religion, her entire identity — and chose to bind herself to a people and a faith that were not hers by birth.

And what came of this choice? Ruth married Boaz. Their great-grandson was King David. The entire messianic line — the future redeemer of Israel — descends from a convert.

This is not a minor detail. It is a foundational statement about Jewish identity: that Jewishness is not a matter of blood alone. It can be chosen. And those who choose it may produce the most extraordinary fruit.

Onkelos: The Roman Who Translated the Torah

One of the most important converts in Jewish history is Onkelos (also known as Aquila), a Roman nobleman who converted to Judaism in the first or second century CE. According to the Talmud (Gittin 56b), Onkelos was the nephew of the Roman Emperor Titus — the very emperor who destroyed the Second Temple.

The story of his conversion is dramatic: Onkelos summoned the spirits of Titus, Balaam, and Jesus through necromancy to ask them about their fates in the afterlife. Each warned him against opposing Israel. Onkelos converted.

His legacy is monumental. Onkelos produced the Targum Onkelos — the authoritative Aramaic translation of the Torah, which remains printed alongside the Hebrew text in traditional Jewish Bibles. When Jews study the weekly Torah portion, many follow the practice of reading each verse twice in Hebrew and once in Onkelos — a practice called shnayim mikra v’echad targum. The most widely used translation of the Torah was written by a convert.

The Conversion Process

Before exploring modern famous converts, it helps to understand what conversion to Judaism actually involves. Unlike religions that require only a declaration of faith, Judaism demands a comprehensive transformation of life:

1. Study: A period of intensive study — typically one to several years — covering Jewish law, history, theology, Hebrew, holidays, and lifecycle events
2. Living Jewishly: The candidate is expected to adopt Jewish practices — observing Shabbat, keeping kosher (to the standard of their denomination), attending synagogue, integrating into a Jewish community
3. Beit din: Appearing before a rabbinical court (beit din) of three to demonstrate knowledge and sincerity
4. Mikveh: Immersion in a ritual bath (mikveh)
5. Circumcision: For men, brit milah (or hatafat dam brit, a symbolic drawing of blood, if already circumcised)

The process is deliberately demanding. The Talmud teaches that a rabbi should initially discourage a potential convert — three times, according to tradition — to test sincerity. Judaism does not want reluctant members. It wants people who have thought deeply, studied seriously, and chosen freely.

Sammy Davis Jr.: “Yes I Can — And Yes I Am”

Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990) — the legendary entertainer, singer, dancer, and actor — converted to Judaism in 1961. His conversion was one of the most public and most discussed of the twentieth century.

Davis became interested in Judaism after a car accident in 1954 that cost him his left eye. During his recovery, a rabbi friend gave him books about Judaism, and Davis found himself drawn to the religion’s emphasis on justice, resilience, and the dignity of the individual. As a Black man in a deeply segregated America, he identified with the Jewish experience of persecution and survival.

His conversion was controversial. Many assumed it was a publicity stunt or a ploy to gain acceptance in Hollywood. Davis was hurt by the skepticism. He studied seriously, underwent a formal conversion, and remained Jewish for the rest of his life. He wore a Star of David around his neck, observed Jewish holidays, and raised his children in the faith.

“Being a Jew is like being a Negro in this country,” he said. “You have to be twice as good to be considered equal.”

Elizabeth Taylor: The Most Glamorous Convert

Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011) converted to Judaism in 1959, shortly before her marriage to Eddie Fisher (who was Jewish). But unlike many celebrity conversions that are perceived as romantic gestures, Taylor’s conversion was genuine and enduring.

She studied with a Reform rabbi for several months, chose the Hebrew name Elisheba, and remained Jewish for the rest of her life — through four subsequent marriages (including two to non-Jewish Richard Burton). She was an outspoken supporter of Israel, raised millions for Jewish causes, and was one of the first major celebrities to champion AIDS research and awareness.

When the Arab League boycotted her films because of her support for Israel, Taylor reportedly said she was “proud to be blacklisted.”

Marilyn Monroe: The Unexpected Convert

Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) converted to Judaism in 1956 before her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller. She studied with Rabbi Robert Goldburg, a Reform rabbi in Connecticut, and took the conversion seriously enough to maintain a kosher kitchen.

The conversion was, by most accounts, sincere — Monroe was drawn to Judaism’s intellectual tradition and its emphasis on questioning. She reportedly kept a mezuzah on her door after her divorce from Miller. Her conversion remains one of the most unexpected in celebrity history.

Ivanka Trump: The Most Controversial Convert

Ivanka Trump (born 1981) converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2009 before her marriage to Jared Kushner. She studied with Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, one of the most respected Modern Orthodox rabbis in America, and underwent an Orthodox conversion that included keeping Shabbat, maintaining a kosher home, and observing the laws of niddah (family purity).

Her conversion has been both praised and criticized. Supporters note the seriousness of her study and observance. Critics — particularly after her father’s presidency — have questioned the sincerity of her Jewish practice and accused her of using Judaism for political advantage. Her conversion was not recognized by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate (which has a notoriously narrow standard), though it is recognized by most Orthodox authorities in America.

Kate Capshaw and Drew Barrymore

Kate Capshaw (born 1953) converted to Judaism before her marriage to Steven Spielberg in 1991. She has described her conversion as one of the most meaningful experiences of her life and has raised her children (including those from a previous marriage) as Jewish.

Drew Barrymore (born 1975) reportedly studied Judaism and underwent some form of conversion process, though the details are less publicly documented than other celebrity conversions.

What Converts Tell Us About Judaism

The stories of famous converts reveal something important about Jewish identity: it is not a closed club. Despite the tradition of discouraging potential converts, Judaism ultimately welcomes those who choose it with open arms — and with a theological seriousness that is unique among world religions.

Once converted, a Jew is a Jew. Period. The Talmud forbids reminding converts of their non-Jewish past. The tradition teaches that converts have Jewish souls that were present at Sinai. And the greatest proof of the convert’s legitimacy stands at the very foundation of Jewish history: Ruth, the Moabite, whose descendant will one day redeem the world.

As the rabbis teach: “Do not despise the convert” (Derekh Eretz Zuta 1:9). For you never know — the convert who walks through your door may be the ancestor of the Messiah.