Today JEWDICIOUS presents a podcast conversation between Editor-in-Chief, Michael Golden, and Mayor Brett Smiley of Providence, Rhode Island. Below are excerpts:
Why Mayor Smiley chose Judaism:
I think first, theologically, I'm in a community where most people believe in God, and I certainly do. But Judaism is a space where it's okay to even question your belief in God. That doesn't exist in most religious contexts. So that’s a big deal.
The fact that, even in the sort of the way in which the Talmud works, where there's like — here's another interpretation. This constant reinterpretation, re-interrogation of previous understandings, of previous laws. To me, it shows an open minded, intellectual rigor and curiosity. An interrogation that's welcome, in a sense that it’s in a question, a sense of questioning where that's not dogmatic, like many other faiths that I've been exposed to. That, to me, made me feel like I had found my place. And then the sort of broader, moral orientation around the value of life, the imperative to try to heal the world. That morality was really one of the things I was looking for.
On how being Jewish guides his public leadership:
I'm making hard, moral decisions around, you know, encampments for people who are unhoused. Criminal justice questions. A range of issues. And I don't think you can do this stuff alone. You can't do it well, at least. And so in order to have a moral framework with which to try to make better decisions, to try to help people, and find that balance, the moral framework of Judaism worked for me.
I've approached my public service by being willing to challenge assumptions, to be willing to hear contrary points of view, and then to sometimes offer a contrary point of view. That’s something I value. It's something that Jews value, and so that sort of underscores that I’m pretty sure I found the right place.
On what he learned during his May visit to Israel:
First, it was personally meaningful spiritually, to be able to bring in Shabbat at the hotel for the first time as a Jew. That was really special.
I think all of us could do each other a favor by not feigning to be Middle East policy experts, when we're not listening to rocket alarms every night and don't understand what that daily life is like. We got just a small flavor of it and had to go into a shelters twice. And so it gave me a sense of, I don't know if humility is the right word. Or caution. But maybe we all shouldn't be playing armchair Mideast experts, when we don't really understand what it's like to live in that environment.
On dealing with protests surrounding the war:
The night before I left (for Israel), there were protesters at my house, chanting: “Free Palestine! Smiley, how many babies have you killed today?"…It just had to do with the fact that I was going on this trip. I mean, in addition to making me angry, it feels antisemitic to me. I mean, the Jewish mayor is going to Israel and you protest his house? Politicians may take trips all the time. I've taken trips before. I didn't get protested on any of those other trips. So, that's very difficult.
People, of course, have the right to protest, and I will say that my community does a lot of political activism, as a positive. I will say we've had lots of protests over the last couple of years, and they've all been peaceful. We respect their right to protest. I don't love them coming to people's houses, but they're allowed to do so on the sidewalk. But it doesn't feel great.
On the changing attitudes among Democratic voters and officeholders regarding support for Israel:
You and I remember, this did not used to be a controversial issue. There used to be near uniformity. And so I feel like in my political lifetime, which is really the last 20 or 25 years, I've witnessed the shift and it's deeply concerning to me. And it's, you know, obviously the government structure is different there than here, and so I don't think the analogy is exactly one to one. But I think most Americans should be able to understand that we can still love our country, but vehemently disagree with our government.
I know I do right now. And the same is true within Israel… I understand both, sort of strategically, its importance as our strongest — and only — Democratic ally in the Middle East, and the importance of that relationship, even if we we disagree with who's leading the government right now.
On the U.S. Senate’s rejection of a bill to block arms sales to Israel — while 27 Democrats voted in favor:
“…the various missile defense systems, Iron Dome and the other related programs are critical for (Israelis’) safety, for the stability of the region, and I think the American government should continue to support that without question.
What I hope is, for leaders like me, who do not have a vote in Congress, who don't have a role in federal or foreign affairs, there is other stuff that we are responsible for. And that is why I've been so engaged in the antisemitism work, because this kind of 30,000 foot global conversation is affecting the lives of members of my community. In America, having nothing to do with votes over arms sales.
I'm not shy about expressing my point of view, but I do try to stay focused on that which I can control, and that which I am actually responsible for, the safety and protection of 190,000 residents of Providence. All of the vulnerable communities right now that includes the Jewish community, they are of paramount concern to me. That’s where I try to do better, to make sure that everyone feels safe in this community and is welcome.
On his new Jewish community and quest to become a bar-mitzvah:
I've definitely met new people and new relationships and there is a certain older set that I think has taken me under their wings. Now I'm in an adult bar-mitzvah class, and there's 14 of us. And it's great. It's a fascinating mix.
You know, it's through my synagogue, so it's all members of this reform school, and there's a handful of older women for whom bat-mitzvahs weren't available when they were of age. There's a handful of converts.
And it's great. We’ve got this fun class and unlike a 13-year -old, like, no one's making us go. We're all there because we want to be. It’s a lot of fun and it's interesting and it is built like a lovely little clique of friends that’s really special. It's really pretty great. And next year, we're going to have not just the religious ceremony, which is meaningful, but then subset of us are going to have the bar-mitzvah (celebration).
**Much more on the full podcast. Excerpts have been edited for length and clarity.
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