Providence mayors Smiley and Cicilline celebrated their bar mitzvahs together at Temple Beth-El, marking a historic, defiant embrace of Jewish identity amid rising antisemitism.

On March 15, 2026, Providence, Rhode Island, celebrated a historic moment as mayors Brett Smiley and David Cicilline, the city’s first and second Jewish mayors, jointly marked their bar mitzvahs at Temple Beth-El. The ceremony, attended by over 700 people, honored 13 adult students, including Smiley, who converted to Judaism in 2024, and Cicilline, a lifelong congregant. The event, described as a defiant celebration of Jewish identity amid rising antisemitism, followed a recent attack on a Detroit synagogue. Participants, ranging in age and profession, emphasized unity, resilience, and belonging. Rabbi Sarah Mack and cantor Judith Seplowin, who led the program, called the gathering a powerful affirmation of tradition, with Seplowin marking it as her final class before retirement.