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DNA tests could be sparking a rise in conversions

Reform Beth Din head says more people discovering they have Jewish ancestry are finding a home in Judaism

April 9, 2025 16:28
DNA GettyImages-56788032.jpg
Through DNA tests more people are learning they have Jewish ancestry (Photo: Getty Images)
2 min read

Conversions in the Reform and Liberal movements were a quarter up in 2024 on the year before and significantly higher than the average for recent years.

The numbers of those entering Judaism via the Reform movement rose from 127 in 2023 to 168 last year and from 84 to 95 for the Liberals.

Jointly, the number of converts for the two Progressive movements last year (263) represented a 42 per cent increase on the annual average (186) for the previous seven years.

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, convenor of the Reform Beit Din, noted an upward trend of people converting to Judaism without a Jewish partner – which he put down to three factors.