The Liberal and Reform movements are experiencing a surge in conversions, with community leaders saying the pandemic has made people reflect more on faith.

Some of the new applicants have been motivated by traditional reasons, such as a Jewish partner. But many have little previous Jewish connection.

Liberal Judaism reports that 139 people registered to go through its conversion process last year after having attended services or classes for at least three months.

The number is double the 2019 total of 70 and a significant rise on the 93 registering in 2020.

Although the Reform movement could not furnish national statistics on conversion, there is widespread evidence of soaring interest.

For example, demand has increased for the distance learning programme run by the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors to assist conversion in small communities without a rabbi.

“Six years ago, we had about half-a-dozen students — today there are 18 on the books,” reported Rabbi Sybil Sheridan who runs the programme for the movement’s Beit Din.

Current students are based in areas including Glasgow, Blackpool, Sheffield, the West Country and Wales.

Thanet and District Reform has received more than 20 inquiries about conversion in the past two years, compared “to perhaps 20 approaches in the 19 years that I’ve led the community”, said Rabbi Cliff Cohen.

“About half had some vague Jewish ancestry, half none at all. Twelve have now committed to the course and three others are still regularly joining our Zoom services.”

Demand has also been high in Manchester, where Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen said the Jackson’s Row Reform congregation had been “inundated with conversion inquiries during the Covid period.

“Our numbers now on the course have quadrupled — we currently have over 30.”

Interest was from “people who have some Jewish ancestry and want to step back into Judaism and those who’ve always been drawn and now want to commit”.

Rabbi Sheridan reported that many students on Reform programmes had “no Jewish background or marriage plans. It seems that most filed the thought away that someday they would explore Judaism further. The pandemic, ironically, provided that day. They had more time and Covid itself brought intimations of mortality and thoughts of things beyond their material life.

“I don’t think this trend will reverse and Judaism will be all the stronger for the many well-read individuals who first came to us during this terrible time.”

Liberal Judaism’s Beit Din co-chair Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi concurred that “the pandemic has been a time when people have thought about their priorities in life and realised the importance of spirituality to them”.

Another factor had been that online access “has made it easier for people to connect and to join a new group for the first time.

“The people who have come to Liberal Judaism over the last two years have often been considering exploring Judaism for a long time.

“They have found welcoming communities, open to people whatever their sexuality or ethnicity, and have valued our openness to questioning and exploration.”

Liberal Judaism’s conversion process incorporates regular classes, essays, synagogue attendance and Shabbat and festival observance. It takes a minimum of a year and generally around 18 months.

When a candidate feels ready — and their sponsoring rabbi agrees — an interview is arranged with the Beit Din.

If accepted, the candidate is asked to join the rabbis in a short act of blessing. Certificates are signed and presented at a formal acceptance ceremony in their own synagogue.

Fifty-six people completed the process in 2019, 61 in 2020 and 90 last year. The movement expects numbers to further increase in 2022 and 2023.

Around 10 per cent are not full conversions but where “Jewish status” is confirmed by the Beit Din. These generally involve people with a Jewish parent who did not grow up living a Jewish life or receiving a Jewish education.

Over the past year, the Liberal Judaism website page detailing the conversion process has received more than 5,000 impressions.

Movement CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky said that as it celebrated “120 years since our founding, we couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present than seeing more people than ever find their homes in Liberal Judaism.

“By leading the way on online access — and making our services and events open to all — it has given people the chance to try Liberal Judaism without the pressure that comes with stepping into a religious building for the first time.

“We also spent a lot of time managing the online conversion process, giving people the chance to build real relationships. We never close doors on anyone and always work with people where they are at.

“Conversion through Liberal Judaism is not an easy process but it is an accessible one. I’m delighted to see how it has grown.”