Conversion to Judaism

The Hebrew ger (in post-Biblical times translated as "proselyte") literally means "resident" and refers to a non-Israelite who lived among the Israelite community. When the Torah commands compassion and equal justice for the ger, it is referring to these "residents". Rabbinic tradition interpreted the word ger as referring to proselytes..."Angel's explanation of the literal meaning of "ger" as alien is borne out in biblical verses such as Lev 19:34: The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.Another verse which has been interpreted as referring to non-Jews converting to Judaism is Esther 8:17, although no process is described. The word ger in Numbers 15 is rendered as prosílytos (Koine Greek: προσήλυτος) in the Septuagint and gəyurā (Jewish Palestinian Aramaic: גיורא) in Targum Onkelos on Numbers 15:15–16, which word in both cases denotes a convert to Judaism. A formal male convert to Judaism is referred to as a ger; the term for a woman convert is giyoret (גִּיוֹרֶת) in Numbers 15:15-16. In Rabbinic Judaism, a