I was at my Reform temple circa 1995. I was sitting with my friends. The cantor opened up for questions. I asked why there’s so much chazzanos at temple when most people would prefer congregational singing? The cantor took offense.
After break when I came back to my seat, I notice that all of my friends had moved to a different row. I was now alone.
Jews are good at shunning.
“I have to learn to be more diplomatic,” I said to myself.
I felt a kind of despair.
