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Just two weeks after SCJS held its annual conference in Miami Beach, a similar conference convened in El Paso, TX, August 19-21. Titled “The Sephardic Anousim Conference,” it was hosted by local Congregation B’nai Zion.

El Paso is a city with a strong crypto-Jewish presence and Rabbi Stephen A. Leon of Congegation B’nai Zion has a long history of working with anousim, assisting them in their return to Judaism. Rabbi Leon delivered the keynote address after Friday evening candle lighting and dinner. His topic: “The Crypto-Jews of the Southwest; How and Why They Are Returning to Judaism.” It is a topic with which he is acquainted.

Las Cruces, NM Writer Denise Chavez spoke about her family’s anousim history the following afternoon. Later in the day, Sonya Loya, in her presentation, “My Personal Journey,” told how she discovered her Jewish heritage and about her return to Judaism. Her inspiring story can be found beginning on page one of this issue. We came to know Sonya and Rabbi Leon at our conference in Miami Beach, which they attended, and we look forward to working with them in future SCJS events. Sonya is now Director of the Bat-Tziyon Hebrew Learning Center in Ruidoso, NM.

On Saturday evening Seudah Shlesheet and several others, who have returned to Judaism or are in the process of doing so, took part in a panel discussion. This was followed by Havdalah and a musical program featuring Cantor Marc Philippe and New Mexico singer and composer Consuelo Luz.

On Sunday morning, Bennett Greenspan of Family Tree DNA presented a paper entitled “The Anousim and DNA Testing Today.” Greenspan has spoken on the topic at previous SCJS conferences.

SCJS held its annual conference in El Paso in August of 2006, with Sonya and Rabbi Leon serving as local conference chairs.