FBI Confirms Bias Motive in Arson Attack on Mississippi Synagogue

2026-01-13 general

Jackson, Monday, 12 January 2026.
Stephen Spencer Pittman confessed to the January 10 arson at Jackson’s Beth Israel Congregation, citing antisemitic motives. Miraculously, a Torah that survived the Holocaust remained untouched amidst the destruction.

Details of the Confession and Attack

Federal investigators revealed on Monday that the suspect, Stephen Spencer Pittman, explicitly targeted the Beth Israel Congregation because of its “Jewish ties,” characterizing the house of worship in court documents as a “synagogue of Satan” [1]. The arson attack, which occurred just after 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, involved Pittman allegedly breaking a window with an axe before pouring gasoline into the building’s lobby and igniting the blaze with a torch lighter [1]. During the commission of the crime, Pittman reportedly texted his father, laughing that he “finally got them,” prompting his father to contact the FBI and report the confession [1]. Authorities corroborated these details after recovering a hand torch and a charred cellphone at the scene [1].

Assessing the Cultural Loss

The fire caused extensive destruction to the synagogue’s library and administrative offices [2][3]. While the structural integrity of some areas remained, the cultural toll was severe: two Torah scrolls were destroyed, and five others sustained damage [2]. However, amidst the devastation, a Torah scroll that had survived the Holocaust was recovered undamaged, a fact noted with relief by the congregation [2][7]. The Jackson Fire Department confirmed that while the library contents were a total loss, other portions of the building primarily suffered from smoke and soot damage rather than direct fire [2].

Historical Context and Legal Proceedings

This attack resonates deeply with the history of Beth Israel, which was founded in 1860 and previously targeted by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 due to the civil rights advocacy of its then-leader, Rabbi Perry Nussbaum [2][4]. Jackson Mayor John Horhn condemned the current attack, stating that acts of “religious hatred” are assaults on the city as a whole and will be treated as threats to residents’ safety [4]. Pittman, who was arrested by the Jackson Fire Department’s Arson Division while recovering from burn injuries at a hospital, is scheduled to appear in federal court today, Monday, January 12 [4][6].

Community Resilience and Recovery

Despite the suspension of services at the Old Canton Road facility, the congregation has vowed to continue its operations [3]. Beth Israel President Zach Shemper emphasized the community’s resilience, announcing that worship services will proceed in temporary spaces offered by local churches [8]. “We will not be intimidated. We will not be silent,” stated Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, underscoring the broader national support for the Jackson Jewish community as they begin the rebuilding process [1].

Sources

Hate crime Antisemitism