Sept 15th 1964, Yom Kippur began..the holiest day of the Jewish year. I was 16, and at services that night with my parents and younger brother.
The rabbi devoted most of his sermon as to why Jews should NOT vote for Barry Goldwater in November. (If you recall, Goldwater family's was part Jewish.)
I was a junior usher, so I had scored great seats for my family..8th row..near the center aisle. I went to sit with them during the sermon as is customary.
When the rabbi really got going against Goldwater, I stood up, stepped out into the aisle, and walked out out, right down the aisle, out the door, in front of a packed temple, about 800 people, many who were friends, most of whom knew me.
My mother was speechless. I think she was traumatized. Until the day she died, 44 years later, she NEVER got over it.
This was midweek, either a Tuesday or a Wednesday evening. The next Saturday, when I showed up to usher on Sabbath services, I was called into the rabbi's study. The cantor was there, along with several of the heads of the congregation.
Before they could start in, I told them that the rabbi was my spiritual adviser, and NOT my political mentor. I said I would do it again, if he did it again.
As I was leaving the room, I told them that I would be happy to leave my copies of "National Review" in the temple library.
The next year I was off to college, and never went back.
Postscript: This was in the Bronx, which until the 60's was heavily middle class Jewish, but was just then beginning to change rapidly, and unfortunately, for the worse. MY parents had moved to the suburbs about 5 years earlier, but continued to attend because of many long friendships.
In the mid 90's, I had to drive down to the Bronx VA to visit someone, and happened to drive right past the temple. The building is now a mosque.
I did enjoy your anecdote. The part about your synagogue becoming a mosque is interesting (if disappointing).
There is protocol, and there is true Religion.
To choose true Religion over protocol is never wrong.
Shalom
Gutsy kid! How disappointing to return to your old ‘hood and see the dramatic change.