The Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, has once again become a target of hate. In the early hours of Saturday morning, an arsonist broke into the state’s largest and oldest synagogue, setting a fire that destroyed sacred Torah scrolls and gutted the library.

The attack is a chilling echo of 1967, when the Ku Klux Klan bombed the same building to punish the rabbi for his support of the Civil Rights Movement. "They tried to burn us out then, and they are trying now," said Congregation President Zach Shemper. "But we are still here."

The Arrest

Police have arrested a suspect, identified only as a local man with burn injuries, who was found at a nearby hospital. Jackson Fire Chief Charles Felton confirmed the fire was "definitely arson," noting that accelerants were used in the sanctuary.

• The Damage: While the structure stands, the loss is spiritual. Several Torah scrolls—handwritten, priceless texts—were incinerated. "A Torah is like a person," explained Rabbi Joseph Rosen. "To burn it is a murder of memory."
• The Political Context: Mayor John Horhn condemned the act as "domestic terrorism." The FBI has joined the investigation, looking into potential links to white supremacist groups. The attack comes amidst a nationwide surge in antisemitic incidents following the Middle East conflict.
• Interfaith Solidarity: In a show of resilience, local churches have offered their spaces for the Jewish community to hold Shabbat services. "An attack on one house of worship is an attack on all," said a local Baptist pastor.

A Symbol of Resistance

Beth Israel is not just a building; it is a monument to the alliance between Black and Jewish Americans in the Deep South. The fire has scarred its walls, but as the community gathered to pray in the parking lot on Sunday, it was clear that the flame of hatred had failed to consume their spirit.