Did the Jews ever preached?

[Moonlight]

I found an intresting verse in the new testement that got me curious. It's one of jesus' ranks and he said:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are"

It sounds more like a prophecy talking about Christains and Islam.

I thought the Jews were very strict and only accept a few non-Jew who wish to devote themselves to the law and yaweh. Plus the torah has heavy laws that a Jew must follow so I can't see them going around the world converting people to there religion.