List of converts to Judaism
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As Judaism is not an actively proselytizing religion, conversion is a relatively uncommon occurrence. This article endeavours to list some notable people who have converted, or are believed to have converted, to Judaism. The article does not differentiate between the different branches of Judaism, but doesn't list people who married a Jewish spouse without converting.
(A number of prominent figures, such as Madonna, have recently become followers of Kabbalah, a body of Jewish mystical teaching, but do not consider themselves – and are not considered – Jewish.)
List of converts to Judaism
- Abraham & Sarah, Biblical patriarch and matriarch
- Christian Anfinsen, chemist
- Tom Arnold, actor (upon marrying Roseanne Barr).
- Elizabeth Brewster, Canadian poet
- Sarah Brown, actress
- Bulan, king of the Khazars
- Kate Capshaw, actress (upon marrying Steven Spielberg)
- Nell Carter, singer and actress
- Connie Chung, news anchor (upon marrying Maury Povich)
- Sammy Davis, Jr., entertainer
- Jacqueline du Pré, musician (upon marrying Daniel Barenboim)
- Isla Fisher, model (upon marrying Sacha Baron Cohen)
- Aaron Freeman, journalist & comedian
- Lord George Gordon, nobleman and politician
- Gudit, queen of Damot
- Henry Hill, FBI informant
- Elizabeth Hulette, pro wrestling valet
- Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses
- Carolyn Jones, actress (upon marrying Aaron Spelling)
- Jon Juaristi, linguist and political essayer
- Felicity Kendal, actress
- Jamaica Kincaid, author
- Mathilde Krim, AIDS researcher & educator, founder of amFAR
- Julius Lester, children's author
- Elliott Maddox, baseball player
- Makeda, queen of Sheba
- Adah Isaacs Menken, stage actress
- Marilyn Monroe, actress (upon marrying Arthur Miller)
- Dhu Nuwas, king of Yemen
- Martha Nussbaum, philosopher
- Obadiah the Proselyte (né Johannes), priest and composer
- Onkelos, Hebrew scholar and translator
- Valentine Potocki, Polish count
- Ruth, grandmother of King David
- Laura Schlessinger, radio personality
- Norma Shearer, actress (upon marrying Irving Thalberg)
- Elizabeth Taylor, actress (upon marrying Eddie Fisher)
- Chris Van Allsburg, children's writer
- Jackie Wilson, soul singer
- Mare Winningham, actress-singer
- Nikki Ziering, model (upon marrying Ian Ziering)