Age Old Hatred Of Jews Showed Up in Jackson, Mississippi In Burning Oldest Synagogue Down

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                      

This photo shows damage to the Beth Israel Congregation synagogue library from a fire that occurred hours earlier on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Jackson, Mississippi. Credit: Courtesy of Beth Israel Congregation.  This makes me sick.  Just recently I had to move into Assisted Living and had to give up some precious books of mine for the sake of needing more room.  I had them deposited in our synagogue.  Beth Israel probably also held some very special Jewish books now up in flames.                                   

Mississippi's oldest and Jackson's only synagogue was the object of an arson attack.  "A suspect was in custody and charged with arson and accused of setting the Saturday morning fire. It’s not the first time the Beth Israel house of worship has been attacked." 

                                           

          Beth Israel Synagogue in Portland, Oregon, also Reformed.  
 

Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the fire, which remains under investigation, but it comes amid a wave of antisemitic attacks in recent years.

I certainly would call this a hate crime.  Any time a synagogue is purposely set on fire, it's on purpose, especially when the culprit is caught on camera in action setting the fire.  What's to question, hem and haw about?  

The synagogue was burnt down to ashes in areas.  Do you think the congregation is happy about it?  Do you think, G-d forbid, that the congregants did it?                        

      Beth Israel Congregation in Portland, Oregon, founded in 1858.  

The Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, founded in 1860, is the largest and only Jewish synagogue in the city. It is a Reform Jewish congregation that has played a significant role in both the local community and the American Civil Rights Movement.  

• Founding and Early Years: The congregation was organized in 1860 by Jewish immigrants, primarily of German background. In 1867, they built the first synagogue in Mississippi, a modest wood-frame schoolhouse that also served as a place of worship. After this building was destroyed by fire in 1874, a new brick structure was erected on the same site in 1875.
• Civil Rights Era and Bombings: During the 1960s, Beth Israel became known for its advocacy for civil rights and integration. This stance made the synagogue and its rabbi, Perry Nussbaum, targets of white supremacists. In September 1967, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the temple, causing extensive damage. Two months later, Rabbi Nussbaum's home was also bombed, though he and his wife were unharmed. These events galvanized some in the white community to realize that resistance to integration had gone too far.
• Recent Events: The synagogue, currently located at 5315 Old Canton Road, was recently damaged by an arson fire on January 10, 2026. Authorities arrested a suspect, and the incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime/domestic terrorism, adding to fears about rising antisemitism. 
• The congregation has received an outpouring of support from other faith communities in Jackson, with several churches offering their spaces for worship while the synagogue assesses the damage and plans to rebuild. The community remains committed to its mission of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and looks forward to continuing its long history in Jackson. 
• As of a 2021 report from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL), Beth Israel Congregation, the city's only synagogue, had approximately 170 member households.
• The overall Jewish population in the state of Mississippi was estimated to be around 2,910 in 2024, with Jackson having the largest community. 
The Jewish population in Jackson and the rest of Mississippi has been steadily declining for decades as younger generations often leave for college and do not return to take over family businesses in the area.            
The Synagogue's security camera caught the person splashing a liquid inside before it caught fire.  The predawn fire Saturday reduced the Beth Israel Congregation’s library and administrative offices to charred ruins and left smoke damage throughout the building. The destruction occurred in the same part of the building that was damaged when Ku Klux Klan members bombed the temple in 1967 because of the rabbi’s outspoken support of civil rights. 

Local and federal law enforcement made an arrest Saturday night after the suspect was found at a Jackson hospital with burns that were not life-threatening, said Charles Felton, a chief investigator with the Jackson Fire Department.

The fire was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, and firefighters extinguished it before sunrise. No congregants or firefighters were injured.

Resource:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/us/mississippi-synagogue-arson-attack-suspect.html

https://mississippitoday.org/2026/01/11/mississippi-synagogue-fire-security-video-liquid/