Reuven Carlyle Still Believes
The retiring state senator and founder of Washington's Jewish Caucus talks about democracy, Jewish representation, and the need to harness more courage.
Salad Course
Gone So Soon
North Seattle’s kosher- and Shabbat-observant Moishe House, which opened to much excitement last November, is disbanding. It’s not all sad, though. A new house is opening this weekend in the Central District, and a South Seattle house, “Kibbutz Darom” seems to be going strong.
Baruchim Ha’Baim
Congregation Ezra Bessaroth recently welcomed a new rabbi, Rabbi David Benchlouch (pronounced ben-sheh-loosh — I heard you wondering), his wife Tirzah, and four of their kids. The family joins the congregation from Israel.
Welcome to all the families new to Seattle — if you know someone who has recently moved here, please invite them to join The Cholent community!
Jewish geography be like…
Meat and Potatoes
“It is imperative that we recognize that democracy itself is consistent with Jewish values.”
Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) reflects on 14 years of public service, founding the state’s Jewish Caucus, and harnessing the courage to fight anti-Semitism.
Senator Reuven Carlyle is an ally and an asset to the Jewish community. I recall interviewing him back in my early days at the JTNews and later at Jewish in Seattle. He was always available, and a careful slow talker. I always thought he must understand the journalist’s challenge of transcribing a conversation as it’s happening. Carlyle is retiring this winter. I hope whoever fills his seat is as much an advocate for this community as he has been.
What drew you to politics originally?
I was elected in 2008 when Barack Obama was running. I was deeply inspired by his vision and his narrative, a seat in the state house was coming open, and I had an opportunity to run. It's really about the incredible opportunity and honor of servant leadership, and the values of the Jewish community in terms of religious, legal, medical, political, and the deep institutional strengths that the Jewish community brings. I think it’s important that it be reflected in public service as well.
How did the Jewish Caucus get started?
I realized as soon as I took office that it was important for the Jewish community to have a stronger and more organized voice in elected public office. I founded the Jewish Caucus, which was just an informal affiliation of Jewish members, because I felt a need for a more coordinated approach among formal and informal requests by the Jewish community for support. For instance, when a request for funding for the Jewish Family Service building came up, we coordinated our efforts. In the last few years, Representative Tana Senn, who's active in the national caucus of Jewish legislators, has really been the strong voice for a more organized approach. It’s just been wonderful.
What are you most proud of?
The work that I'm particularly proud of has really been driven by my climate work. I feel a moral obligation to the community to be a leader on that issue. Washington state has the strongest climate package in the United States. My Jewish identity informs a lot of what I do and my positions and my policies. It's my value system. I think it's incredibly important to be public and be transparent about who we are as individuals in a representative democracy.
You talked about funding for JFS. What else have you have accomplished with other Jewish legislators?
There have been bills around Holocaust education, bills around holidays. We've taken stands and tried to encourage the Seattle Public Schools not to start school on Yom Kippur. Right now, I think there is a new issue, which is access to reproductive rights. It’s important for the Jewish community to take a stand. We have a large number of hospitals in our state — and some communities exclusively — that are represented by Catholic institutions. I think that's an important public policy issue, just as an example. There have just been a wide range of education, healthcare, investment spending, environmental justice, and immigrant rights issues over 14 years.
From your perch, what do you see as the biggest challenges to the Jewish community in Washington state?
I think there are a number of important issues. One is that the organized Jewish community has a deep discomfort at raising the issue of how to deal with anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitism on the left. I think we're uncomfortable with conflict, we're uncomfortable with controversy. There's a sense that we don't want to raise issues publicly. So we sort of try to do it all privately and discreetly, and sometimes that simply isn't the right approach. Sometimes it is, of course, but not always. I think this is a national, arguably global, issue, but I think in Seattle we find a deep discomfort with ways to talk about it, ways to raise it, ways to address it.
When there was graffiti outside of JFS, it was virtual deafening silence from most public officials. Just virtual deafening silence. And I think that is philosophically inconsistent. We need to have the courage to challenge folks in public office to ensure that the interests of the Jewish community are included in their definition of diversity and equity.
The issue of Jewish representation in public schools in the context of DEI seems to be a growing concern.
I feel strongly that diversity and equity and inclusion need to have a sense of humility. I think there are some who do not believe that Jews and the Jewish experience need to be included in that lived experience definition. And I think that that's unfortunate. We have to talk openly about some of these issues. I think there's a profound sense of conflict that many on the far left have. The far left and the far right seem to often come full circle on the extremes, expressing a lack of appreciation for the Jewish story. We need to be open and courageous.
For being the people of book, we really don't tell our story all that well sometimes. I think it comes from that fear of, “we don't want to make too much trouble,” or “we want to give someone else a chance.” I think our organizations often encourage us to wait for all the things to align and let the people in power do their thing. Meanwhile, people are stuck wondering like, well, what do I do? My kid is being harassed.
That's right. Again, with JFS, last year they had anti-Semitic graffiti on their walls. City Council and others were completely silent.
What are you going to do next?
I leave office in January, and I feel a deep sense of fulfillment and completion with my legislative work. I wanted to celebrate the luxury of going out on top. That's been an important guiding principle for me. I think that it shows a respect for the voters and the public to go out at the height of effectiveness. It wasn't a decision I made casually. I'm excited to explore a wide range of new opportunities in the public and the private sector.
What's your parting blessing for the Jewish community?
We live at a time of enormous disequilibrium in society, and virtually every institution has been questioned and has been criticized and has been attacked for their lack of perfection. I believe that the institution of representative democracy and the strength of this constitutional republic is a blessing. I maintain that it is imperative that we recognize that democracy itself is consistent with Jewish values, and Jewish values are consistent with democracy in a constitutional republic. I take that very seriously, and it's a profound honor to serve.
I just want to express my gratitude to the Jewish community for the unwavering and fierce support that I've received politically, in my campaigns, and in my efforts. It’s just been a deep honor to be partners in service. I'm still going to be a member of the community on every level. I'm just going to be in different positions.
This Week Last Year
I am no less obsessed with unpacking the real implications of anti-racism, critical theory, and DEI than I was a year ago. I’m pleased to see more Jews taking note of some of the negative impacts of social justice ideology, but I also worry that the train has left the station.
Dessert Course
Community Announcements
Check out the Seattle Jewish community calendar and the virtual calendar.
This week’s parasha is Vaetchanan.
Candlelighting in Seattle is at 8:07 p.m.
Today is Tu B’Av, a little celebrated holiday of love with origins in the start of the grape harvest in ancient Israel. Do something romantic today!
Shoutouts
Mazal tov to Miriam Brukhis and Bryan Leiberman on their marriage this week! —Mel and David