The firebombing of Beth Israel in Mississippi strikes at the heart of religious freedom, dignity and peace

In the aboriginal greeting hours of Jan. 11, 2026, flames tore done Beth Israel Congregation successful Jackson, Mississippi — the state's largest and oldest synagogue. The occurrence destroyed the library, 2 ineffable Torahs and the Tree of Life plaque honoring generations of meaningful moments. But this was not an accident. This was an enactment of deliberate hate. 

According to an FBI transgression complaint, 19-year-old Stephen Spencer Pittman confessed to breaking a model with an axe, pouring gasoline wrong and igniting the occurrence due to the fact that of the building's "Jewish ties." He referred to the synagogue arsenic the "synagogue of Satan." When confronted by his begetter astir burns connected his hands, ankles and face, Pittman reportedly laughed and said, "I yet got them."

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Beth Israel Congregation successful Jackson is the state’s largest synagogue. No congregants were injured, officials said.  (Beth Israel)

For Beth Israel Congregation, this onslaught is not the first. Founded successful 1860, the synagogue has stood arsenic a beacon of Jewish beingness successful Mississippi for implicit 165 years. In 1967, during the tallness of the Civil Rights Movement, section Ku Klux Klan members bombed some the synagogue and the location of its rabbi — a antheral who had courageously spoken retired against racism and segregation.

Nearly six decades later, hatred has erstwhile again targeted this ineffable space. The parallels are chilling. The methods whitethorn differ, but the intent remains the same: to terrorize, to soundlessness and to destruct a community's spot of worship and belonging. 

This onslaught successful Mississippi is portion of a disturbing planetary emergence successful antisemitic violence. Just weeks earlier, a begetter and lad opened occurrence connected Jewish radical celebrating Hanukkah connected Bondi Beach successful Sydney, Australia, sidesplitting 15 and injuring dozens. Across the United States, Europe and beyond, Jewish communities are facing an alarming surge successful hatred crimes, vandalism and threats.

The FBI's ailment reveals that Pittman conducted "research" earlier the onslaught — a chilling reminder that antisemitism is not spontaneous. It is learned, cultivated and emboldened by rhetoric that dehumanizes Jewish people. When we let hateful connection to spell unchallenged, erstwhile we disregard antisemitism arsenic "just politics" oregon "free speech," we make the conditions for violence.

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Boards screen the charred remains of the Beth Israel Congregation library, which was acceptable connected occurrence aboriginal Saturday morning, connected Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, successful Jackson, Mississippi.  (Sophie Bates/AP Photo )

Despite the devastation, Beth Israel Congregation is lasting strong. President Zach Shemper released a connection affirming the resilience of the synagogue's 150 families: "As Jackson's lone synagogue, Beth Israel is simply a beloved institution, and it is the fellowship of our neighbors and extended assemblage that volition spot america through."

Remarkably, a Torah that survived the Holocaust — protected by a solid show lawsuit — was not damaged successful the fire. It stands arsenic a almighty awesome of Jewish endurance and continuity successful the look of relentless hatred.

Local churches person offered impermanent abstraction for Beth Israel to proceed services arsenic the synagogue rebuilds. Jackson Mayor John Horhn declared, "Acts of antisemitism, racism and spiritual hatred are attacks connected Jackson arsenic a full and volition beryllium treated arsenic acts of panic against residents' information and state to worship."

This photograph provided by Beth Israel Congregation shows harm sustained during a fire, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, astatine Beth Israel Congregation, successful Jackson, Miss. (Beth Israel Congregation via AP) (Beth Israel Congregation via AP)

The firebombing of Beth Israel is not conscionable an onslaught connected the Jewish assemblage — it is an battle connected our shared values of spiritual freedom, dignity and peace. When 1 assemblage is targeted, we are each diminished. This is wherefore bridge-building enactment is much urgent than ever. We indispensable make spaces wherever radical from each backgrounds tin travel unneurotic successful dialogue, acquisition and solidarity. We indispensable face antisemitism wherever it appears — successful our schools, our workplaces, our societal media feeds and our communities.

We indispensable basal with our Jewish neighbors, not conscionable successful moments of crisis, but successful the mundane enactment of gathering a nine rooted successful respect and understanding.

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As we bespeak connected this tragedy, fto america perpetrate to speaking retired against antisemitism and each forms of hate, adjacent erstwhile it is uncomfortable. That means educating ourselves and others astir the past and interaction of antisemitism, gathering bridges betwixt communities done dialogue, shared experiences and corporate action, and supporting Jewish communities successful tangible ways — from attending solidarity events to advocating for information resources and amplifying Jewish voices. It besides means holding leaders accountable for rhetoric that fuels part and violence.

The flames that engulfed Beth Israel Congregation were meant to destroy. But they person alternatively illuminated the urgent request for solidarity, the powerfulness of resilience and the enduring spot of community.

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We cannot let hatred to win. We indispensable take transportation implicit division, knowing implicit ignorance, and emotion implicit fear. Together, we tin physique a aboriginal wherever ineffable spaces are protected, wherever each radical tin worship freely and wherever acts of panic are met with unwavering unity. 

The enactment of peacebuilding is not easy, but it is essential. And it starts with each of america choosing to basal unneurotic — contiguous and each day.