There is some disagreement between the Orthodox and the more liberal denominations concerning the conversion process. The controversy arises over the need for the convert to accept the yoke of the commandments which means making a lifelong commitment to Orthodoxy.
The Orthodox believe the convert must accept the Torah's commandments (kabbalat ol mitzvot), be immersed in a ritual bath (tevilah) in front of witnesses, and the men must be circumcised (milah) in front of witnesses.
The Reconstructionists official movement policy requires a course of study, a beit din (Rabbinical Court), mikveh (ritual bath), and hatafat dam brit (ritual circumcision or, if already circumcised, a ritual removal of a single drop of blood). In actuality, however, many Reconstructionist converts do not undergo all of the requirements. Also, most Reconstructionist synagogues accept conversions performed by rabbis outside of their own movement.
Reform rabbis are not obligated by their movement to perform conversions in any one way.
In practice, the overwhelming majority of Reform rabbis today require study, hatafat dam brit and immersion in a mikveh. Some Reform rabbis, however, will make exceptions in certain cases. For example: When circumcision may be unhealthy.
The process of conversion that is accepted by the conservative movement has three parts.
-Learning and growth towards observance of the commandments (Mitzvot).
-Immersion in the mikveh.
-For the man, the additional requirement of circumcision (Brit Milah) or symbolic hatafat dam brit.
The differences of opinion between the different branches would all be well and good had not Israel become a state in 1948. Israel is now run by and made for Jews. Israel's Law of Return automatically granted Israeli citizenship to anyone anywhere in the world who is a Jew. This law amplified the need to distinguish the difference between Jew and Gentile. This issue gets muddled in the classification disagreement among the branches.
