Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and former Mayor David Cicilline celebrated their bar mitzvah together at Temple Beth-El, marking a rare moment in the city's history as its first and second Jewish mayors shared the milestone. The ceremony brought together 13 adults who had spent 16 months studying Hebrew and preparing for the rite of passage, drawing more than 700 attendees.

For Smiley, who converted to Judaism in 2024 after being raised Protestant, the event represented the culmination of a deeply personal spiritual journey rooted in family heritage and community connection. Cicilline, who is Jewish through his mother, had long been part of the congregation but had never formally marked the tradition in his youth.

The ceremony took on added meaning in the wake of a recent attack on a Reform synagogue in Michigan, serving as a public affirmation of Jewish identity and resilience. Rabbi Sarah Mack described it as a joyful and proud embrace of tradition in the face of antisemitism.

The celebration concluded with a festive reception, complete with music and traditional chair lifts, offering participants the joyful experience many had missed in their youth and underscoring a day defined by faith, unity, and community pride.