A person was taken into custody late Saturday after a fire severely damaged the historic Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, an incident authorities are treating as an act of arson. The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. and caused extensive damage to administrative offices and the synagogue library, where several Torah scrolls were destroyed or damaged.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn confirmed that after a swift investigation involving the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, a suspect was apprehended. 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, Mayor Horhn stated.
Although the synagogue sustained heavy damage, there were no injuries among congregants reported. This synagogue holds a significant place in history, previously targeted during the civil rights movement when it was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 due to its association with civil rights advocacy.
The community is rallying in support of the synagogue, with outreach from other houses of worship and a firm resolve among congregants. According to a statement from the Institute for Southern Jewish Life, Beth Israel is a beloved institution, and it is the fellowship of our neighbors and extended community that will see us through. Notably, one Torah that survived the Holocaust remained unharmed.
