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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) \u2014 Mayor Brett Smiley said his second trip to Israel was \u201cvery meaningful,\u201d as it was his first visit to the country since converting to Judaism last summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n The mayor returned to Providence last Wednesday after spending a week in the country<\/a> with a group from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island earlier this month.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a lot that I gained in terms of understanding and context for the current situation. But it was personally deeply moving for me,\u201d Smiley told 12 News on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The mayor also explained what it was like to have to take shelter amid alarms warning of an airstrike.<\/p>\n \u201cEverywhere you go right now, every time you check into a hotel or go out to eat, you see very clear signs for where the closest shelter is,\u201d Smiley said. \u201cThat alone is jarring, to recognize that there\u2019s millions of people for whom that\u2019s how they live their daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n The mayor said that on the last night of his trip, the group was sitting down for dinner in Tel Aviv when they were alerted that they would have to move.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of our guides came in and said, \u2018In a couple of minutes we\u2019re going to stand up. We\u2019re going to walk outside, we\u2019re going to take a left, and then you\u2019re going to take the first left into a parking garage,’\u201d Smiley recalled. \u201cAnd right as she finished speaking, we could hear the sirens go off.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: Palestinian flag-raising at Providence City Hall divides councilors <\/a><\/p>\n Smiley said it was \u201ca very real way\u201d to experience and empathize with the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a condition that no one should have to live with, whether it\u2019s in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine or any other war-torn portion of the world,\u201d Smiley said. \u201cSo, it helped to provide a little bit of empathy for me and also a little gratitude to get to live in this country every day.\u201d<\/p>\n The trip brewed controversy among some groups, like the Rhode Island chapter of the Jewish Voice for Peace, who protested outside of the mayor\u2019s Hope Street home<\/a> the day after he returned from his trip.<\/p>\n NEXT: Should Providence City Hall have a flag policy? Mayor Smiley thinks so <\/a><\/p>\n Alexandra Leslie<\/strong>\u00a0(aleslie@wpri.com<\/a>) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0on Facebook<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Download the WPRI 12<\/a> and Pinpoint Weather 12<\/a> apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com<\/a> or with the new 12+ smart TV app<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Follow us on social media:<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n