January 13, 2026
Fire at a large synagogue in Mississippi – suspect arrested
הנזק לבית הכנסת. צילום: קהילת ״בית ישראל״ במיסיסיפי
On Saturday before dawn, there was a fire at the large synagogue 'Beit Israel' in Jackson, Mississippi.
The suspect is a 19-year-old American.
He burned the synagogue.
The suspect confessed to the act in front of his father.
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He said he burned the building because of its connection to Judaism. He called it 'Satan's synagogue.' He laughed as he spoke about the act. His family called the authorities after he confessed, and he was arrested.
The fire broke out around 3 a.m. Security cameras showed a person pouring gasoline and lighting a fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the synagogue's library. Several Torah scrolls were burned, but some of the older scrolls were saved from the flames.
The Beth Israel Synagogue is the center of the largest Jewish community in Jackson. Community and city leaders condemned the incident.