Jackson Synagogue Targeted in Apparent Arson Attack, Suspect Arrested

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI (Worthy News) – The same Mississippi synagogue bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in the 1960s was targeted again over the weekend, as authorities arrested a suspect accused of setting a fire at Beth Israel Congregation early Saturday morning.

The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. at the synagogue in Jackson, damaging its library and administrative offices. No injuries were reported. Mayor John Horhn said the incident is being treated as an act of terrorism.

“Acts of antisemitism, racism and religious hatred are attacks on Jackson as a whole,” Horhn said. “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.”

According to Mississippi Today, two Torah scrolls were destroyed and five others sustained heavy damage. One Torah that survived the Holocaust remained unharmed after being protected inside a glass case. The fire also charred the synagogue’s Tree of Life plaque, which records significant moments in the congregation’s history.

Synagogue president Zach Shemper said the congregation has received an outpouring of support from other houses of worship across the Jackson area. Services at Beth Israel have been suspended indefinitely as members assess the extent of the damage.

Authorities have not yet classified the incident as a hate crime, and the suspect’s identity has not been released. Jackson Fire Department Chief Fire Investigator Charles Felton said firefighters initially responded to a report of a possible church fire, later calling in arson investigators when the cause could not be immediately determined. Early speculation that lightning from nearby storms may have caused the blaze was ruled out due to lack of evidence.

Multiple agencies are assisting in the investigation, including the Jackson Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

“I was at Beth Israel yesterday, and I saw firsthand how our partners stepped up,” Horhn said. “Their work led to the swift arrest of a suspect, and we’ll continue to support their efforts as the investigation moves forward.”

Beth Israel Congregation, established before the Civil War, was previously bombed in 1967 by Ku Klux Klan members because of its involvement in civil rights efforts. The Institute for Southern Jewish Life, which also operates from the building, said the synagogue remains a beloved institution in Jackson.

“As Jackson’s only synagogue, Beth Israel is a cherished part of this city,” the institute said. “It is the fellowship of our neighbors and extended community that will see us through.”

National Jewish organizations also condemned the attack. The American Jewish Committee said it was “outraged” by what it described as another example of escalating antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League called the fire a “deliberate, targeted attack,” with ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt warning that antisemitic violence across the United States is intensifying and requires decisive action.

The incident comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks nationwide. The Anti-Defamation League reported more than 9,000 documented antisemitic incidents in 2024, the highest number since it began tracking such data in 1979.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Prophetic Perspective

Many Christian observers note that the rising tide of antisemitism carries prophetic significance. Scripture foretells that the Jewish people would be restored to their ancient homeland in the last days, as declared in Jeremiah 16, which speaks first of “fishermen” drawing the Jewish people back, followed by “hunters” who would drive them home again through mounting pressure and hostility. In this view, the resurgence of antisemitism around the world is not random, but a sobering indicator that humanity is entering this final stage of prophetic fulfillment—where opposition increases even as God’s purposes move inexorably toward completion.

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