Jewish conversion has sparked intense debate throughout history, challenging modern assumptions about what makes someone "authentically" Jewish. A landmark 1982 symposium at the Jewish Theological Seminary, moderated by Provost Ismar Schorsch, examined these controversies through a historical lens. Chancellor Gerson D. Cohen's opening remarks situated current religious and cultural tensions—particularly pronounced in the United States and Israel—within their broader historical context. Through critical historical investigation paired with analysis of traditional halakhic sources and contemporary practices, the symposium revealed how Jewish conversion has evolved significantly over time, undermining notions of unchanging religious doctrine or ethnic criteria. Key points of contention included rabbinical authority, the Israeli Law of Return, and fundamental differences between Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform interpretations. The analysis demonstrated that formal conversion represents just one pathway to Jewish community membership, with many individuals historically integrating through de facto rather than de jure means. These historical insights offer valuable perspective on current institutional challenges facing Jewish religious communities and suggest new frameworks for addressing modern conversion controversies.