The Jewish community has, over the centuries, had a certain wariness of others beaten into it, quite literally, over the centuries. The fear of unwittingly providing those who would seek to harm us with ammunition probably explains the reticence you encountered.

I've been watching the muslims community long enough to know that most of what is represented there is from the progressive side of Islam. I won't profess to know "a lot" about Jewish History, but I am willing to share what I do know, and point you to sources more authoritative than me.