JACKSON, MS — A wave of national condemnation has followed a deliberate arson attack on the Beth Israel Congregation, the largest and oldest synagogue in Mississippi. Early Saturday, January 10, 2026, an intentional blaze gutted the synagogue’s library and administrative offices, destroying two sacred Torah scrolls and evoking painful memories of the state’s violent civil rights era.
The FBI has since arrested Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, who reportedly confessed to targeting the building because of its “Jewish ties.” Federal authorities noted that the suspect allegedly referred to the house of worship as a “synagogue of Satan” and laughed while recounting the act to family members.
Justice & Advocacy: A Unified Front Against Hate
Leading civil rights organizations were swift to frame the attack not only as a strike against the Jewish community but as an assault on the shared history of the American South.
- The NAACP: President and CEO Derrick Johnson described the fire as a “chilling reminder” of rising extremism. He emphasized that the violation of a sacred space affects the “soul of our nation” and called for immediate federal action to address the forces driving such targeted violence.
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center: In a poignant statement, the Center noted that the synagogue represents a legacy “shaped in partnership with the Black community through the long, unfinished struggle for civil rights.”
- The ADL: The Anti-Defamation League’s South Central office stated they were “horrified” but unsurprised by the escalating trend of antisemitic vandalism, which has seen a nearly 900% increase over the past decade.
Security & Law Enforcement: The Pursuit of Federal Charges
The investigation is being treated with the highest priority by the FBI and the Department of Justice. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger have signaled that they will seek severe penalties to deter similar acts of “communal antisemitism.”
Pittman has been charged under federal statutes for the malicious destruction of a building used in interstate commerce. Representative Bennie Thompson, whose district includes parts of Jackson, has further urged the Department of Justice to investigate the incident as a federal hate crime, stressing that such “cowardly violence” has no place in modern Mississippi.
History: A Legacy Forged in Fire
The 2026 attack is particularly significant due to Beth Israel’s historic role in the fight for racial equality. In 1967, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the same synagogue in retaliation for the civil rights advocacy of Rabbi Perry Nussbaum.
Senator Jon Ossoff and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries both highlighted this lineage of resilience, noting that the congregation’s refusal to be intimidated during the 1960s serves as a blueprint for the current response. “It is the same hatred, revived,” stated the Combat Antisemitism Movement, noting that while the decade has changed, the ideological roots of the violence remain familiar.
Human Rights & Community: A Sanctuary in Ashes
While the physical damage to the library is extensive, the sanctuary remains standing. In a show of interfaith solidarity that has defined Jackson’s response, several local churches have offered their facilities for Beth Israel’s upcoming Shabbat services.
- Torah Recovery: While two scrolls were lost, five others are being assessed for smoke damage. A rare Torah that survived the Holocaust and was kept behind protective glass was reportedly unharmed.
- Community Resilience: Flowers and messages of support have been laid at the police tape surrounding the soot-stained entrance. Synagogue President Zach Shemper confirmed the congregation is “devastated but ready to rebuild.”
