The War on American Soil

The 1875 Beth Israel synagogue on South State Street, photograph c. 1940s.

The Nameless One tried to warn us about radical Islam coming to the West. I think he also accounted for home-grown terrorism that embraces radical Islam, and in fact this is what we should be wary of most…people who don’t know the violence their speech can ignite, people who siphon their hatred through what they perceive as a cause (with a hidden violence all its own).

In the early morning hours of January 10, 2026, fire engines arrived at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi. Flames shot through windows, smoke filled the sanctuary, and the unmistakable signs of a deliberately set fire were present. 

Authorities confirmed on January 11 that the cause was indeed arson and announced that a suspect had been arrested, though the identity has not yet been released and there has been no motive publicly ascribed to the arson. 

Beth Israel Congregation itself is more than a historic building. Founded in 1860, it has served generations of Jewish families in Mississippi and has been the only synagogue in the state’s capital city for most of its existence. 

It has always been small in membership yet rich in tradition, culture, and community life. Over the past few decades, it grew into the most active and vibrant synagogue in Mississippi. 

In recent years, Rabbi Benjamin Russell — who began serving the congregation while still a student rabbi — worked to expand educational programs, community engagement, and cultural events. Under his leadership, the synagogue strengthened relationships across the city, often collaborating with churches, universities, service organizations, and civic groups.

             The president of the congregation, Zach Shemper, soon released a statement expressing relief that lives had been spared. He acknowledged the emotional weight of seeing the building damaged but emphasized gratitude for the first responders and law enforcement officials who acted quickly. 

He also underscored the congregation’s determination to continue worship and community activities without interruption. 

Several surrounding churches immediately offered their own sanctuaries and community halls for temporary use, a gesture that reflected long-standing interfaith friendships in Jackson. Members of Beth Israel reported receiving messages of support from neighbors, coworkers, and strangers as news of the fire spread.

Jackson’s mayor, John Horhn, condemned the attack unequivocally. In his statement, he insisted that acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred would be treated not just as crimes but as threats against the entire community’s safety and freedom of worship. 

He emphasized that Jackson stands with the Jewish community and vowed that local authorities, working alongside federal investigators, would ensure justice is pursued swiftly and thoroughly. The arrest of a suspect, announced shortly afterward, was attributed in part to coordinated investigative work at multiple levels of government. 

The fire stirred painful memories of earlier attacks on Jewish institutions. Beth Israel Congregation has been here before — in 1967, the synagogue was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan. That attack targeted the congregation for its rabbi’s public support of the civil rights movement and its partnerships with Black leaders in Jackson. 

Although that bombing did not result in injuries, it left deep psychological scars and marked a defining moment in the congregation’s history. To many long-time members, the latest attack echoes those tensions of the past, reminding them that hatred can re-emerge in different forms and different eras.

National and faith-based organizations also responded, noting the significance of the attack not only for Mississippi but for the country as a whole. The Council on American-Islamic Relations stated that houses of worship should be safe havens and called for unity among religious and civic leaders to confront antisemitic hate. 

One longtime member of Beth Israel described the heartbreak of seeing images of the building charred and damaged. She recalled her children’s bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies held within those now-blackened walls and the many holiday celebrations that brought the community together. 

Another member shared that he had arrived at the synagogue just hours after the flames were extinguished and felt overwhelmed by the sight of smoke stains, scorched prayer books, and the lingering smell of burned wood. Yet he also spoke of gratitude — gratitude that no lives were lost, and gratitude that churches across Jackson immediately offered their spaces and their support.