Authorities have taken a suspect into custody following a predawn fire that tore through Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, causing extensive damage to the state’s largest and only synagogue in the city. Investigators say the blaze was intentionally set, and the FBI is assisting local officials as they examine whether the attack qualifies as a hate crime.
The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday. Jackson Fire Chief Charles Felton said investigators believe the fire started in the synagogue’s library before spreading toward the sanctuary. Fire officials said they quickly contained the blaze and extinguished the flames, confirming that no one was inside the building at the time, and no injuries were reported among congregants. Images from the scene showed severe destruction in the synagogue’s library and administrative offices, where multiple Torah scrolls were either destroyed or badly damaged. Smoke and soot spread throughout the building, leaving the sanctuary’s floors, walls and ceilings coated in ash. Congregation leaders said that Two Torahs stored in the library were destroyed, while others are being evaluated for smoke exposure. One Torah that survived the Holocaust, kept behind glass, was not harmed. Felton noted that the extent of smoke damage means the congregation will not be able to return to the building for some time, and will need to temporarily relocate its services.
Mayor John Horhn confirmed that a person was detained following a joint investigation involving city authorities, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Officials have not released the suspect’s name or motive, citing the ongoing inquiry. Fire investigators said the individual was found at a local hospital with non-life-threatening burn injuries and is expected to face arson charges once medically cleared. Horhn said in a statement: “Acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred are attacks on Jackson as a whole and will be treated as acts of terror against residents’ safety and freedom to worship. Targeting people because of their faith, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation is morally wrong, un-American, and completely incompatible with the values of this city.”
Beth Israel Congregation holds deep historical significance. The synagogue was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because of its involvement in civil rights efforts, according to the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, which is headquartered in the same building. Michele Schipper, CEO of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and a past president of the congregation, said in a statement “We’re all devastated, but we are ready to rebuild, and with the support and outreach from our community, we will continue to be a vibrant Jewish community in Jackson, Mississippi. The Institute of Southern Jewish Life also emphasized the outpouring of local support. “As Jackson’s only synagogue, Beth Israel is a beloved institution, and it is the fellowship of our neighbors and extended community that will see us through,” the organization said in a statement.
Jewish advocacy groups condemned the fire, pointing to a broader rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide. “This wasn’t random vandalism — it was a deliberate, targeted attack on the Jewish community,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. “That it has been attacked again, amid a surge of antisemitic incidents across the US, is a stark reminder: antisemitic violence is escalating, and it demands total condemnation and swift action from everyone.”
Despite the destruction, the congregation has vowed to continue to rebuild, and local churches have offered space for services, including Shabbat observances, while repairs are underway. Synagogue president Zach Shemper said:“We are a resilient people. With the support from the community, we will rebuild. Beth Israel Congregation has been the Jewish spiritual home in Jackson, MS for over 160 years.”
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