[Alouette]

Did they apply to Rachav? Calev? Rut? Any gerim?

Before they converted? No.

BTW Calev was a Jew, not a convert.

[safisoft]

BTW Calev was a Jew, not a convert.

Yes, I know that is the tradition, and possibly a valid one... but then again he may have been a part of the mixed multitude that came out of Mitzraim with benei Ysrea'el.

As for converting, can you tell me the formal process prior to the Great Assembly and Ezra? Where in the Torah does it describe such an important process? On the other hand, there is very clear teaching regarding gerim having the same toratot as benei Ysra'el. I love Artscroll's English translation of gerim to "proselyte." Too bad they are not consistent with it however. Otherwise, Ya'akov is proselyte (he is called gerim). Avraham is a proselyte (he is called gerim). Yikes!

On the other hand, I have no problem with a formal conversion process provided it is understood to be a tradition and not Torah. (BTW, I am not a Karaite either).