[BenF]

Hmmm... so then would conversion to Judaism gain one this coverage of "the chosen"?

He is mistaken regarding "the chosen"

Does anyone know how many convert to Judaism?

Conversion to Judaism is discouraged by AUTHENTIC Judaism. Bogus religions claiming to be a "branch" of Judaism have different practices.

Is most of Judaism characterized by the same level of apostasy as most protestant denominations?

Nobody's perfect.

Where does Judaism stand on abortion?

Permissible only to save the life of the mother. Remember, I speak of AUTHENTIC Judaism, not other faiths claiming to be "branches".

[slhill]

Yes, but "life of the mother" has been interpreted very differently from time to time by different rabbonim. I wish I had my notes to hand about it all -- I can't even remember the source texts. Presumably by "authentic", you mean Torah-true, btw...? Or are you being more specific still?

[slhill]

Additionally, I should have said that I think that it's overstating it a bit to say conversion is discouraged. It isn't encouraged, and each individual convert is discouraged three times, but that is to ensure that each person converts for the right reasons. Once converted, they are treated no differently in halakha from other Jews. Additionally, as a by-the-bye, conversion across all branches of Judaism, including reform, are getting more stringent. In British Liberal Judaism, the rough equivalent of American Reform, you have to take a series of very searching tests to be converted. What you don't have to do, and one of the reasons why Orthodox Jews won't accept Liberal conversions, is adhere to strict halakha in your daily life. In other words, you don't have to lay t'fillin every morning or otherwise be shomrei mitzvot.