Another facet of Ahabat Torah is that we are sought out by anusim, those who have recently discovered their familial roots go back to the period of the Spanish Inquisition.
Each case is unique and we are in touch with batei din to ascertain the procedures needed for these anusim to become full-fledged members of our congregation. It is truly a modern-day miracle that they are experiencing this awakening. The rabbis involved in reaching out to these anusim perform a real Kiddush Hashem. Unfortunately, missionaries have infiltrated their ranks, making our task all the more difficult.
These true anusim, to borrow from the title of a popular 1960’s pop tune, are the ones who really “know the way to San Jose.”
I’d be interested to hear from others like myself, rabbis whose background is non-Sephardi but who are now serving in Sephardic synagogues. I will assume until proven wrong that we are a very small minority.