At 3 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, a fire tore through Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi — the largest synagogue in the state, and the only one in the city.

This was not an accident.

Authorities confirmed the blaze was caused by arson. The FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force are involved. The fire destroyed sacred Torah scrolls, damaged irreplaceable archives, and scarred the sanctuary of a community that has worshipped there for over 160 years.

The suspect is in custody. But arrest is not enough.
We demand the harshest possible punishment under the law.

This was not a random act of vandalism — it was a deliberate hate crime, a targeted act of antisemitic terror, and a direct attack on freedom of religion in America.

Beth Israel Congregation was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 for supporting the civil rights movement. Now, in 2026, it has been attacked again — amid a national surge in antisemitic incidents, hate crimes, and acts of politically motivated violence.

Enough is enough.

We are calling on:

The U.S. Department of Justice to pursue federal hate crime and domestic terrorism charges

The Mississippi Attorney General and local prosecutors to seek the maximum sentence under state law.

When someone burns a house of worship, they’re trying to send a message.

Let the message back be: This country will not tolerate hate.

Let this be the last time Beth Israel is targeted. Let this be the case that sets the bar: burn a synagogue, and you will face the full force of justice.

Sign this petition to demand the maximum sentence for the perpetrator of this hate-fueled crime. For the Torahs that burned. For the history that nearly went up in flames. For the safety of every religious community in America.

Photo: Beth Israel Congregation via AP