Authorities in Jackson, Mississippi, have revealed that the fire that broke out at the city’s only synagogue, Beth Israel Congregation, on Saturday was an act of arson. A suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Beth Israel Congregation, which has a 160-year history, is not only the largest synagogue in Mississippi but also the only one in Jackson. The fire on Saturday caused significant damage to the historic building.
The blaze engulfed the synagogue around 3 a.m. on Saturday. Fortunately, as it was the Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, no worshippers were present in the building when the fire occurred, thereby avoiding any injuries.
According to the nonprofit online news outlet Mississippi Today, two Torah scrolls were destroyed in the fire, while five others sustained smoke damage. The library and administrative office were also reduced to rubble. However, a Torah that survived the Holocaust remained intact as it was protected in a glass case.
Following the determination by investigators that the fire was a deliberate act of arson, Jackson Fire Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) carried out the arrest on Saturday evening.
In the aftermath of the attack, several local places of worship extended support to Beth Israel Congregation. Bailey Martin Holloway, spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, mentioned that the state’s Homeland Security office is cooperating with federal authorities in the investigation.
Mayor John Horhn of Jackson emphasized in a statement, “Acts of anti-Semitism, racism, and religious hatred are attacks on the entire community of Jackson and will be regarded as acts of terror against the safety and religious freedom of residents. I urge all Mississippians and citizens of Jackson to come together and find a way to coexist beyond such behaviors and actions.”
Horhn confirmed that one individual has been detained after the investigation. He also stated that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved in the inquiry.
The leadership of Beth Israel Congregation is currently assessing the extent of the damages and coordinating with local religious organizations on interim worship arrangements while planning for the rebuilding process.
Although investigators have not yet determined the motive behind the arson, Charles Felton, the head of the arson investigation division at the Jackson Fire Department, noted that the suspect is expected to face arson charges.